Bennett calls Fox Resources survey ‘spin doctoring’ as firm sets up Bundaberg reference group
The WA mining company behind the proposal for a coal mine in Bundaberg has ramped up its community engagement, claiming a recent survey shows two-thirds of the community supports the project. Vote in our poll:
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The mining exploration company proposing a coal mine near Bundaberg has launched a series of community engagement initiatives apparently designed to garner public support for the project that could well be the company’s last lifeline.
A key factor in the Queensland Supreme Court decision to overturn the state government’s blocking of Fox Resources’ mining development application for MDL 3040, a mining development lease covering a swath of agricultural land in north Bundaberg, was the court’s view that Resources Minister Scott Stewart had made an “error of law” in not conducting an “evaluative process” to gauge community sentiment towards the proposal.
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About a month after LNP Burnett MP Stephen Bennett and ALP Bundaberg MP Tom Smith launched petitions opposing the coal mine, Fox Resources commissioned a survey they now claim shows two-thirds of Bundaberg residents support the project.
Run by independent polling company DemosAU, the phone poll surveyed 505 residents between November 6-8.
In response to the question “Would you be more likely or less likely to support a political candidate that supported the Fox Resources steelmaking coal mine in the Bundaberg region, if it protected prime agricultural land?”, 59.3 per cent of respondents said they “strongly agree”.
Similarly, 49.5 per cent of respondents said they were more likely to “support a political candidate that promised any proposal for a steelmaking coal development by Fox Resources in the Bundaberg region would be independently assessed and free of political interference”.
The poll methodology statement published by DemosAU on their website on November 13 states respondents were also asked which political candidate they supported, listing Mr Smith and the LNP candidate for Bundaberg Bree Watson among the options, however the results for this question were not publicly released by Fox Resources.
Fox Resources executive director Bruce Garlick said the survey results showed the Bundaberg community supported Fox Resources “and political candidates that work to deliver a new underground steelmaking coal mine, providing it protects prime agricultural land and puts priority on local workers and businesses”.
Mr Bennett on Tuesday described the Fox Resources survey as “spin doctoring”, pointing out that all questions asking respondents’ support for the coal mine were tied to other provisions and calling on the company to explain how they would minimise the impact of the mine on nearby communities and resources.
“Fox Resources need to openly articulate how they’d plan on adequately mitigating against the risks, potential negative impacts, and community concerns associated with granting this MDL,” Mr Bennett said.
“Until Fox Resources can explain to us exactly how they plan on ‘protecting’ prime agricultural land and our pristine environment, there’s no way anyone can be expected to blindly support this proposal.”
On Wednesday, November 15, Fox Resources announced the establishment of a regional reference group to provide feedback on the proposal as the company developed its mining development application.
Mr Garlick said the reference group would “ensure we fully engage with the local community, minimise environmental impacts and maximise opportunities for the region”.
The announcement said Mr Smith, Mr Bennett and Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey had been informed of the planned reference group, with the terms of reference to be drafted before the end of 2023 and appointments to be announced early in 2024.
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