Liberal MPs still at odds over Mining Bill

After a marathon Liberal party room meeting over the Government’s controversial push to reform the state’s Mining Act, there’s still plenty of division inside Premier Steven Marshall’s ranks. Here’s how the vote is likely to unfold this week.

• Backbench revolt over Mining Act
• Yorke Peninsula farmers want laws to keep miners off property

Liberal divisions over controversial reforms that pit miners against farmers are still simmering after a marathon party room meeting last night, which could spill over in public this week.

A two-hour party room meeting was held last night in a bid to encourage backbenchers to stand down from threats to cross the floor in large numbers, a move that would embarrass party leadership.

Debate centred around concerns that the Bill doesn’t provide adequate protections for the farming community. The meeting was described by party sources as “respectful” and “cordial”, but the two tribes are still a long way apart.

The eight MPs who The Advertiser revealed have reserved their right to cross the floor over the legislation had their voices and concerns heard, but it’s still widely expected the Lower House will vote on the Bill today.

Narungga MP Fraser Ellis, Davenport MP Steve Murray, MacKillop MP Nick McBride and MLC Terry Stephens.

Yorke Peninsula MP Fraser Ellis, who has fought the Bill on behalf of a concerned farming community who want to be allowed to prevent mining companies from accessing their land, raised a suite of amendments but all were defeated by his party.

Also defeated was a push to adjourn the Bill until next year — concerned MPs had argued that would allow the Government to conduct consultation with farming communities, which it promised in the lead-up to March’s state election.

While enshrining a right to veto for farmers is Mr Ellis’ push, the sticking point for the rest of the dissenters is the lack of consultation.

They spent all election campaign promising that Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan wouldn’t push through a Bill like the Labor Party tried to last year. They were left blindsided when Mr van Holst Pellekaan opted to table a Bill almost identical to former minister Tom Koutsantonis’ and rely on Labor’s consultation, saying more could be held as the Bill was debated.

All in all there are three main ways forward for what looms as a Liberal showdown — set to be watched by at least 40 Yorke Peninsula farmers in Adelaide for the vote.

Up to six — but most likely four Liberal MPs — are preparing to cross the floor in the Lower House if the Bill comes to a vote this afternoon.

The sticking point is the fact that the Bill does not include a right of refusal, which would allow farmers to stop mining companies speculating on their properties.

Three Lower House MPs confirmed to The Advertiser last week that they’d cross the floor if the Bill remained in its current form, and there’s no indication they’ve changed their mind.

That result will set tongues wagging on North Tce — and beyond — about the unity of a party that’s waited 16 years to gain power.

Upper House President Andrew McLachlan twice crossed the floor in the last term of Parliament over bikie legislation, but a show of dissension on this scale is virtually unprecedented.

But the Liberal Party has long prided itself on giving its members a free vote, and Mr Marshall will position the crossing as healthy democracy at work. The only way that argument gets eroded is if Labor votes against or significantly amends the legislation.

Arguments about healthy dissension no longer wash if your legislation gets torpedoed.

The least exciting of the options is that Labor moves to adjourn the debate until next week or the new year and the Government accepts.

There’s also a scenario in which leader of government business John Gardner would resist Labor’s push to adjourn the Bill, but at least three Liberal MPs — plus Independent MP Troy Bell — side with the Opposition to put off the debate and allow for extra consultation.

Whatever happens, Mr Marshall and Mr van Holst Pellekaan will be left with fences to mend in their party ranks and inside the farming community, historically strong Liberal Party supporters and donors.