Why isn't Gerry running this country!

Gerry running the country??? You have got to be joking. With bureaucrats running the show to their own economic advantage, we have enough problems without adding to them by electing someone to govern in favor of the very privileged few.

Well Jerry you have said it all, its about time some of the important people of this Country had something to say about Mining. If only you could kick some sence into the Politicians heads (if that is possible) they should be the ones that should be made to live right next door to these monstrosities like we have to.

I agree that certainty is needed. Some areas - good quality agricultural land, areas of high nature conservation value, riparian areas and so on, should be off limits to mining, no ifs, buts or maybes.

As to the politics, the minerals and energy sector is a big contributor to political parties and governments - of both persuasions - do as they are told by the big mining companies and give them extraordinary subsides and other sweeteners to make their developments happen - in spite of the need to address climate change..

It's high time that the M&E sector was governed by the same rules as the rest of us.

I had thought Harvey's comments would have sufficed to convey to everyone that he was only serving his own selfish interests. I guess I just over estimated the intelligence of commentators like Tigerdicky, John the Mayor, & carolinem.

So tell me Jock, how are you serving your own interests? Are you perhaps employed in the mining industry?

Does it then follow that there is some kind of deficit in the intelligence of people with a different point of view to your own?

Please do explain how Mr Harvey is serving his own selfish interestes? Is it in wanting to ensure that future generations have water and food perhaps?

Is it in wanting to bring some kind of balance into the decision making process overwhelmingly compromised (do your research on the MIning Acts, retard) by mining companies and those with vested interests in these companies (and the financial and political clout to get what THEY want and bugger everone else)?

Please also do explain how our current crop of people "running the county" are NOT governing in favor of the very privileged few, i.e. mining companies and the "international investment class"

You Jock and people like you make me sick.

It's all about you and it's all about now, not the future, and the rest of us who have to live with the impacts and pollution indemic in coal mining and coal seam gasification.

Racing is for mugs and rip-off merchants so there is no point on taking any notice. Racing is primarily a 'service' industry that takes and produces nothing (don't see racehourse on the menu anywhere); unlike certain 'productive' industries. On another point - how much pollution and environmental degradation is derived from the manufacture of products that you buy from certain 'specialist' and discount stores??

The thoroughbred breeding and raciing industries not only generate thousands of Aussies jobs but provides millions of dollars in revenue to the Government!.

The jealous and uneducated slurs of Tenpound Jock and Stuart the rat, just shows you the fibre of these pair of left wing dolllies!

To get back to the point about maintaining a balance. With the catastrophic floods in Queensland, where farmers' crops have been devastated, there has to be a national consensus that certain areas should not be covered by mineral licences at all. If the Liverpool Plains are turned into open cut mines, Australia could not sustain itself and will have to rely on food imports. Do we want this? There are forecasts that the food prices will be going through the roof, so what will happen if other the States don't have the land to increase the production of food in times which we are experiencing now?

I agree with Gerry on a few points but disagree on one in particular.

'Politics - is the fundamental problem behind issues of competing land use' - agree.

'A catastrophe of James Hardie proportions possible in the future thru poorly regulated mining operations' - agree.

'We should not be mining productive areas' - agree.

Our consistently productive farming lands are under attack from mining interests of all persuasions and our govt says 'on balance, the mine should proceed'. I can't understand how they almost invariably arrive at that decision.

'For politicians to tell the truth is political suicide' - strongly disagree!

I, and I'm sure most people would agree with me, have every right to expect that what we are told is indeed the truth. This is a most important issue and is why I won't vote for either major party. The truth, no matter how unpleasant, is better than what we are currently expected to stomach.

So, dear politicians, consider making policies that will advance Australia, not your bank balance.