This article was first published at Climate Spectator

Marion Carey & David Shearman

Coal seam gas mining (CSG) is developing rapidly in New South Wales and Queensland and is commencing in other states. The legal and administrative protections are inadequate to ensure that public health is not harmed and that environmental damage does not leave a legacy for generations.

The public health responsibilities of state and federal governments are to prevent harm by careful scientific assessment of possible hazards, their risks and methods of prevention. Therefore they deal particularly with clean air, clean water and uncontaminated food.

Industry and state governments have frequently reassured the public that there are no dangers from CSG to water supplies and to their health. But what is their evidence?

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