If you cast your mind back to October last year you may remember the uproar when workers at Drayton’s open cut mine were horrified to read in the Daily Telegraph that plans to expand their mine had been rejected by the Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC).
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At the time the NSW Minerals Council, the mining union and the workers themselves wanted to know how the Daily Telegraph was able to publish their articles based on the PAC report before the actual public release of the report.
There was much condemnation at the time, that the leaking of the report, resulted in the workers being informed via the media not by their employer Anglo American.
Well its appears another PAC report has been leaked prior to its public release this time the report into the Warkworth and Mt Thorley Continuation Projects.
Bulga residents who have fought the mines expansion for five years heard they had lost the battle via a comment on social media.
On Thursday morning this week at 9:35am Nationals candidate for the Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen posted on his Facebook page ‘More wonderful news for Upper Hunter today as The Planning Assessment Commission has recommended approval for the Mt Thorley & Mt Warkworth continuation projects.”
The official publication of the report occurred at noon on Thursday.
Commenting on the suggested ‘leak’ Mr Johnsen said we were notified of the decision on Thursday morning by government.
“My post to Facebook had no influence whatsoever on the decision, which had already been made by the PAC and communicated to government, “ he said.
When contacted by Argus PAC said the standard procedure for the release of the reports is that they are given to the Minister for Planning and secretary of the Department of Planning the day before their public release.
A spokesperson for PAC said unfortunately we cannot control who the Minister and/or officers of the Department advise once the PAC has sent them the reports.
When asked by the Argus as to how Mr Johnsen received information about the PAC report a spokesman for Planning Minister Pru Goward said he didn’t know.
Neither Labor’s candidate for the seat Martin Rush or independent candidate Lee Watts were able to obtain any information regarding the report before its official release.
Commenting on the latest PAC leak Mr Rush said it would appear the executive arm of government is willing to treat local workers and local communities with complete arrogance.
“First we had what appears to be a leak to a media outlet concerning the fate of Drayton and now a leak to a political candidate regarding Warkworth Mt Thorley, “ he said.
“This is absolute arrogance on the part of this government to treat our community this way.
“We have proper procedures in place and they should at all times be followed. Good planning is not about scoring political points.”
A Rio Tinto spokesman said they did not release any information regarding the PAC report before its official publication adding they wanted their employees to find out through the correct channels.
“I had been in contact with PAC to find out when we would be able to access their report and was told it we would be able to view the report not long after the proponents Rio Tinto obtained a copy,” said John Krey, spokesman for the Bulga Milbordale Progress Association.
“But that did not happen with our members and other residents seeing the post on Michael Johnsen’s facebook which is very upsetting,” he said.
“The government appears to think its okay to let a political candidate know before the residents of Bulga.
“And lets not forget that one of the recommendations of the report was to relocate our village – to where might one ask.”
