Member for Warrego Howard Hobbs must explain why he remains one the LNP's most vocal opponents to Queensland's CSG industry despite owning shares in a CSG drilling and exploration company, Mining Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said today.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Member for Warrego Howard Hobbs must explain why he remains one the LNP’s most vocal opponents to Queensland’s CSG industry despite owning shares in a CSG drilling and exploration company, Mining Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said today.
During the Mining estimates hearing held in Queensland Parliament this afternoon, Mr Hinchliffe said Howard Hobbs had been caught out as a hypocrite who was more interested in playing the stockmarket to shore up his own bank account rather than protecting agricultural land.
Mr Hinchliffe said that while Mr Hobbs was sponsoring a petition for a moratorium on the CSG industry in Queensland and calling for resource companies to pay a 150% land tax, he owned shares in mining and resource companies including Eastern Star Gas which is currently exploring and drilling for CSG across New South Wales.
“This smacks of absolute hypocrisy,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Mr Hobbs wants to stop the CSG industry in Queensland where we have one of the strongest regulatory frameworks in the world.
“But he is also happy to personally profit from a company exploring and drilling for CSG in New South Wales where no safeguards for landholders exist.
“The LNP will say one thing in the country and another in the city.
“AgForce were fuming last week when Campbell Newman removed landholder protections from the LNP’s CSG policy.
“What will farmers have to say about this latest piece of LNP hypocrisy?”
Mr Hinchliffe said the LNP had some serious explaining to do.
“The money is doing the talking here and the message is clear. The LNP will say one thing in the country and another in the city to their Brisbane stockbrokers,” he said.
“They’ll promise the world to farmers but all bets are off if there’s a personal profit to be made.”
Media contacts: Kerryn Manifold 0439 781 886
Shareholdings by Member for Warrego include: • BHP Billiton • Caltex Australia • Eastern Star Gas • White Energy Company • Woodside Petroleum • Beach Energy
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