Enforce Rule of Law in Gas

Letter to AFR
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The Premier of NSW, Mike Baird, has commented on the ABC that Metgasco had not won the hearts and minds of the community as though this was a reason not to uphold the rule of law. The Premier is confused or poorly advised. No amount of persuasion or gas shortage resulting in price rises will change the minds of Alan Jones and various other anti-coal seam gas activists. Their activism has now extended to conventional gas wells as we saw when they tried to stop Metgasco's latest well. The Premier's criticism is unfounded.

The shareholders of Metgasco have spent more than $120 million exploring in NSW, in good faith, and have identified large coal seam gas reserves.  More recently Metgasco was legally drilling a conventional gas well with the enthusiastic agreement of the farmer who owned the land. The government caved in to protesters and stopped the drilling with trumped up charges that have now been dismissed in court. The government has decided not to appeal. Metgasco shareholders must now be considered. The state must stand by the rule of law and uphold Metgasco's right to drill or deliver the appropriate compensation for the money shareholders have lost.

Janet Barlow

Rose Bay, NSW

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