Dubbo SFF candidate Lara Quealy said her party’s position on coal seam gas has been crystal clear for many years.

“We oppose any new coal seam gas exploration until the 16 recommendations of the NSW Chief Scientist are met,” she said.

“We support the ban on coal seam gas exploration on prime agricultural land and anywhere water supply could be threatened.

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“This should be a major election issue. Prime agricultural land should not be put in danger with CSG mining and I will fight for this up to and beyond the election.”

The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party pledged to vote in favour of a private members bill that would place a temporary halt to coal seam gas mining if passed.

A private member’s bill by Labor MP Adam Searle proposed placing a moratorium on all coal seam gas mining until scientific and environmental studies were complete.

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Mrs Quealy expressed her strong support for the bill.

“Our party wanted to see this bill debated in parliament,” she said.

“Both our members pledged to vote in favour of it.

“But sadly, Labor did not put it up”.

NSW Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change Adam Searle said there were good reasons for not putting its bill forward in parliament.

“It did not progress in the parliament because the opposition of the Liberals, Nationals and the Christian Democrats meant it could not pass the upper house,” he said.

“In any case, there was no opportunity to debate private members’ business in the final week of parliamentary sittings.

“NSW Labor stands by its CSG position, as set out in the legislation introduced into the parliament.

“I look forward to campaigning for Labor’s plan across the state in the lead up to the March 2019 election with Dubbo candidate Stephen Lawrence and welcome the support any person or party wishes to provide.”