I have seen all your messages about Legislative Council independent Justin Field’s private members bill for a moratorium on CSG mining and had no hesitation in supporting the reform. CSG is an environmentally risky heavy-duty industrial activity that has seriously eroded native forests, water sources and agricultural land. I am appalled at the damage it has already done in the Pilliga State Forest and oppose any expansion to that mine.

While Labor, Liberal and National speakers used debate to try to shame each other with outdated environment versus economic, and city versus country arguments, I called on the house to work together for contingent environmental and economic sustainability. Regional jobs do not rely on mining expansions, in fact mining is undermining economic diversity in coal regions, putting them on a path toward economic shock as global coal demand continues to shrink. Renewable energy, technology, manufacturing, agricultural and sustainable chemicals provide better opportunities for future jobs growth.