Following an extensive tour of Liverpool Plains’ Prime Agricultural Land, the Senate Committee for Food Production heard submissions on various aspects of food production on Tuesday.  The Senators and a packed gallery of 40 people, heard submissions on the quality and productivity of the soil, the management of the water, how clean food will be contaminated by coal and gas mining and personal reports of how mining and agriculture do not coexist successfully.

Organic farmer, Geoff Brown, explained how producing clean food for his fellow man is his life’s work and how he is working to make our good black soil even better on his farm, whilst Robert Hunter QC spoke at length on the need for common sense to prevail in such a productive farming area.  Chair of the Committee, Senator Heffernan stated that ‘no mining should start until the science on the interconnectivity of the Water Sources is in’ and is proposing further meetings to hear more submissions on this vital matter.

[The full Hansard transcript is now available here. The deadline for further submissions has now passed.

---