Ellis Land Access Mining Bill voted down by both major parties

Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis MP is disappointed that today his Private Member Land Access Mining Bill was voted down by both major parties, a division recording support only from his fellow Independent MPs.

The House of Assembly vote was 36 to five, with all Labor and Liberal MPs siding against the Bill that aimed to strike a better balance between farming and mining of agricultural land.

The Ellis MP bill was supported by the four Independent MPs--the Member for Stuart Geoff Brock MP, the Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell MP, the Member for MacKillop Nick McBride and the Member for Kavel Dan Cregan.

“This Bill has been awaiting debate since I introduced it in November 2022, and whilst I am pleased it has finally been dealt with in the chamber, I am bitterly disappointed in the lack of support for it, especially from Liberal members in regional seats”, Mr Ellis said.

“This Bill attempted to legislate the recommendations from the multi-partisan Select Committee in the previous Parliament which I note had equal representation from the Liberal and Labor parties as well as Independents so I had hoped for more votes.

“Having taken action on multiple occasions, including crossing the floor trying to amend a previous Bill and establishing a select committee, this Land Access Mining Bill was a last-ditch effort for improvements for farmers in my electorate.

“That said, I will continue to fight for the rights of landholders of prime agricultural land facing the might of mining companies which hold all the cards”, Mr Ellis said.

He said the topic remains relevant, as indicated in his chamber speech yesterday during debate on the Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Environment and Food Production Area) Amendment Bill.

“Whether it is mining or housing, we cannot continue to carve up valuable arable land without proper planning in place.

“I continue to believe that hurdles over which a prospective mining company have to jump should be significantly higher on land that’s in use for food production and I foresee this topic will continue to be an election issue”, Mr Ellis said.