FARMERS have been crying out for years to protect our precious prime farming lands from mining and gas, but until now the plea has largely fallen on deaf ears.
But they hope an unexpected intervention this week from former NSW governor Dame Marie Bashir can jolt politicians into action.
Speaking at an International Women’s day event in Sydney on Sunday Dame Marie ditched the shackles of her former non-political role.
She described the destruction of Australian farmland for mining is a "crisis" received a positive response from many in the agricultural community.
- "Colorado", Caroona (pictured with husband Derek)
“It's fantastic to have someone in such a high profile position recognising and supporting this important issue and I think it's just going to help get our message out to a bigger audience through her,” Mrs Blomfield said.
“Having someone of that profile saying that is just showing the rest of the community that it's not just us that are being directly affected in terms of land, it's just such a diverse range of people that are concerned about this, it's not just a small group of radicals or people from the area worried.”
- "Drayton", Breeza
“I respected Dame Marie in her role as Governor General with the way she held her own council and was silent in her opinion but I didn't know she felt that way but I was amazed and in full support of what she said,” Mr Hamparsum said.
“It shows that there are people who understand the issue and obviously feel strongly about the future of Australian agriculture and keeping our land Australian owned.
“We really need to talk about the dining boom, not the mining boom.”
- Chief executive of Little River Landcare Group and national winner of the 2014 RIRDC Rural Women's Award
"I think regardless of what position you hold, you should always stand up for what you believe," Ms Job said.
"In doing so Dame Marie has shown this issue isn't something that is important only to the land holders it’s affecting, but its an issue that needs to be owned by our entire community."
- "Wimboyne", Blackville
“I think it just reduced us all to tears,” Mrs Nankivell said.
“It was such a great speech, (Dame Marie) said was what we passionately believe in, that the future is food. It just makes you question why the Australian governments aren’t listening and why they're not looking beyond this propped up mining industry.”
- NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson
Mrs Simson said she hoped Dame Marie speaking out would “finally” force the government to protect prime agricultural land.
She spoke also spoke at the International Womens’s Day event as Dame Marie.
"I talked about the legal processes around agricultural land and mining and the fact that government’s Strategic Regional Land Use Policy doesn't provide the necessary protections.
"Despite the government’s rhetoric about not wanting to see mining on the black soil, those lands are still not protected.
The Aquifer Interference policy, and the Gateway panel, don’t prohibit mining activity anywhere."
- Greens mining spokesperson
Mr Buckingham said Dame Marie’s comments were a “game changer”.
"This is an endorsement of the farmers, communities and Greens who have been saying for years that mining and coal seam gas have gone too far and must be stopped.”
Previously, he announced the Greens policy a use the existing Rural Lands State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) to permanently protect the Liverpool Plains and other key agricultural areas.
- NSW Planning Minister
“Since coming to Government the (Coalition) has established a comprehensive policy framework to identify, map and protect agricultural land across the state.
“For the first time in the state's history, over 2.8 million hectares of Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land has been mapped and additional safeguards put in place."
- Country Labor spokesman
Mr Whan said Dame Bashir's comments held a lot of weight, but the key for the next government after the election would be to find the right balance between mining, agriculture and the environment.
"She is hugely respected in the community,” Mr Whan said.
"We do need to protect farmland, but we also need find a balance."
- NSW Minerals Council chief executive
Mr Galilee said the mining industry cast a small shadow in north west NSW, where Shenhua is seeking approval for the controversial Watermark mine in the Liverpool Plains.
“Mining has a very small footprint in the New England region, accounting for less than 0.1% of land, while agriculture accounts for more than 72% of the region's land.
“Mining has played an important role in the region for generations and will continue to do so. It provides many hundreds of local job - over 350 miners live in Gunnedah alone. "Mining also has helped protect the economies of local communities in the region, especially during difficult times of drought.
"In the last financial year alone, local mines spent $213 million on wages, salaries and business purchases in the region, providing over 700 local jobs and supporting over 500 local businesses."
- Lock the Gate national co-ordinator
Phil Laird said the Dame Marie's comments were very powerful.
“The fact that she made these comments at the International Women's Day event show the real role that women are playing in this movement,” Mr Laird said.
“Women do see the issue of mining in a more holistic light, and the fact there is a lack of women in senior roles at both the federal and state level of politics is very telling in the way they are dealing with the issue.”
He said the backing of Dame Marie Bashir, along with union star David Pocock and singer Luke O'Shea, was making a difference to how everyday Australian's view the issue.
“Prominent Australians are like every day Australians but their voices are so much more powerful and that’s really important in the lead up to this month’s state election.”