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[INTRODUCTORY MUSIC]
>> CHRIS HARTCHER: The O’Farrell government was elected on the 26th of March 2011.
>> CHRIS HARTCHER: In April of 2011 it set up a Strategic Land Use Study to actually plan the requirements under which mining and gas extraction would have to operate for the benefit of NSW and for the protection of our water and for our environment.
>> CHRIS HARTCHER: We’ve now finalised that policy after exhaustive interaction with the community, continuous negotiation with major stakeholder groups to ensure that all views are fully heard and properly represented in the decision making process.
>> CHRIS HARTCHER: But it’s the government that accepts the responsibility, as it must for the final decision.
[WHY IS THE STRATEGIC REGIONAL LAND USE POLICY NEEDED?]
>> CHRIS HARTCHER: The government does not represent any company but the government does represent the people of NSW and the government is determined that this industry, the coal mining industry, the mining industry and the gas extraction industry, when it goes ahead goes ahead for the benefit of the people of NSW.
>> CHRIS HARTCHER: It’s the people of NSW who own the value of the resource under state law, and it’s the people of NSW who should get the benefit from the development of that resource.
>> CHRIS HARTCHER: But the resource needs to be developed in a responsible way, in a way that does adequately protect our environment, our food, our water and in a way that engages local communities so that local communities feel that the development of the resource, whatever it is, is of benefit to themselves and not simply of a benefit to the overall state.
[WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT OVERTURNING THE BAN ON HYDRAULIC FRACTURING?]
>> CHRIS HARTCHER: Hydraulic fracturing can be achieved safely and we’ve got all the evidence to support that.
>> CHRIS HARTCHER: We’ve had it reviewed by universities, we’ve had it assessed by the Chief Scientist, we’ve looked at overseas practices and we’re assured that in the few number of cases where hydraulic fracturing will be necessary, it will not pose any risk to our water or to our communities.
>> CHRIS HARTCHER: But in the vast majority of cases where coal seam gas extraction proceeds, probably hydraulic fracturing will not even be required.