ENVIRONMENT Minister Tony Burke is being urged to support an Australian Greens bill giving him more power over coal seam gas (CSG) approvals, after expressing frustration at NSW for rejecting new national protections.
Key independent MP Tony Windsor is demanding the Commonwealth impose stricter environmental assessments on his home state to protect water quality, telling Fairfax Media "it's D-Day" and NSW isn't serious about the issue.
Mr Burke on Wednesday voiced his frustrations at NSW demands for a different set of rules on CSG mining, saying he was exploring "all the options" to force the state to support new federal protocols.
Greens environment spokesman Larissa Waters urged Mr Burke to adopt her 2011 bill adding a 'water trigger' to federal laws.
The trigger, which Mr Windsor is also calling for, would give the government greater approval powers based on the potential impact on water resources.
"The beauty of my bill is that it doesn't rely on the states agreeing," Ms Waters told reporters in Canberra.
"My bill would clearly say that the federal government has responsibility to look at the water impacts of coal seam gas mining.
"In effect it would not bypass the states but would be an additional check and balance."
Mr Burke said the new federal CSG protocols would overhaul the approvals system so the government would pay for scientific analysis, not the mining companies.
"Queensland and Victoria, South Australia as well, have fully signed up to rules that guaranteed that information is part of their system," Mr Burke told reporters.
"I am deeply concerned as to why... NSW is wanting to do fewer checks than other states."
Mr Burke said the government was seeking advice on whether to introduce new laws giving him greater powers over the states.
"(However), I don't have a determined view as to whether that's a correct path to go or not," he said.
He denied he was being forced to take a tough stance against NSW by Mr Windsor, on whose vote the government relies.
"The frustration with NSW on this one has been building for some time," Mr Burke earlier told ABC Radio.
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