http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rural/resource/201111/r848230_7990255...

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Energy analyst says there's bipartisan support for gas projects

By Babs McHugh

Tuesday, 01/11/2011

Despite community concerns about the development of coal seam gas and liquefied natural gas projects, an international energy analyst says the industry has the full support of State and Federal Governments.

Dr Graeme Bethune, of EnergyQuest, says Australia has seven LNG projects under construction, an unprecedented number of developments in global terms.

There are three being built onshore in Queensland and four offshore of Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Dr Bethune says the exports of LNG will rise to $40 billion a year within ten years.

He says he understands the concerns of farmers and others about the rapid pace of development of coal seam gas in Queensland and NSW, but the industry is generally supported.

"There's really bipartisan support. Certainly there's opposition out there, but it tends to come from more the extremes than rather the middle ground of politics," he said.

"There is quite a lot of alarmism which isn't really justified when you look at the facts."