LIVERPOOL Plains, Narrabri, Bylong Valley farmers will take the next step in their fight to say no to coal and coal seam gas mining at a senate hearing in Tamworth.
The meeting, to be held at Wests Diggers on Tuesday, is a hearing into a bill introduced by Greens Senator Larissa Waters' to give landholders the right to say no to coal and unconventional gas and to ban fracking.
Speakers at the hearing include Rosemary Nankivell, SOS Liverpool Plains; Phil Laird, Lock the Gate; Sally Hunter and Kirsty Kelly from People for the Plains; Craig Shaw, Bylong Valley Protection Alliance; Wee Waa farmer Sarah Ciesiolka; and Nicola Chirlian, and Heather Ranclaud from Upper Mooki Landcare.
Senator Waters said the bill would give farmers and community groups more rights.
"The Abbott government is trying to put big overseas mining companies above the law, while leaving communities, like the Liverpool Plains, to deal with the damage to their land, water and climate.
"Landholders, including farmers, traditional owners and local councils, need the right to say no when the big mining companies come marching onto their properties."
