Anti-CSG groups fear 'razor gang'

ANTI coal-seam gas groups are concerned the State Government's decision to withdraw funding from a not-for-profit legal group will cripple their campaigns.

ANTI coal-seam gas groups in the Scenic Rim are concerned the State Government's decision to withdraw funding from a not-for-profit legal group will cripple their campaigns.

The State Government withdrew its $97,000 of funding from the Environmental Defenders Office at the end of June, almost half of the group's annual funding.

The EDO will no longer be able to assist community groups or publish its widely used Community Litigants Handbook.

Keep the Scenic Rim Scenic spokesman Innes Larkin said without the EDO the group would be forced to interpret legal issues themselves.

"The LNP razor gang has just delivered on the promise to 'cut green tape' at the expense of protecting farming and landowner rights," he said.

A statement from Keep the Scenic Rim Scenic said the group had used the EDO regarding a number of environmental concerns.

"This year the free services of the EDO have been drawn upon by individuals and community groups to understand and act on actions like the proposed coalmine at Croftby, coal exploration licences in the Mt Barney Valley, coal seam exploration licences that affect more than 80% of the Scenic Rim, the proposed mega quarry at Kerry, and legal support to the protesters at the Kerry Blockade in January, where the successful outcome was for Arrow to cease its drilling," the statement said.

"Community groups in the Scenic Rim are united in calling upon the State Government to reinstate the EDO funding in the knowledge that communities across Queensland are facing uncertainty in the mining boom, and that the EDO is the one organisation they can access without fear or favour."

Mr Larkin said small, local, environmental groups without the funding to hire legal support would be hurt most by the funding cut.

Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie did not respond to requests for comment from The Queensland Times yesterday.

Originally published as Anti-CSG groups fear 'razor gang'