Anti CSG protests near Grafton - Same old faces?!

LtG protesters abused locals and workers. Facts distorted, protester numbers slimmed

It appears that Ian Gaillard from the infamous Keerong Gas Squad has descent upon Grafton after failed attempts to incite public riots as published in the Northern Star earlier this year. With children and pet dogs involved, did those ugly behaviours exerted over Casino farmers and workers repeat itself again?

An opinion piece by Jojo Newby from the Daily Examiner reveals the story, and it doesn't take long to discover what some of these people are really up to. Hidden agendas?

OPINION - JOJO NEWBY Grafton Daily Examiner

HAVING a job in our town really isn't something I take for granted.

I'm a born-and-bred local and I am fully aware of how difficult it can be to gain employment in our area.

I am also personally opposed to coal seam gas being mined in our picturesque Valley.

I live just a short distance from where Metgasco is test drilling and the property I live on fronts the beautiful Coldstream River.

There are a few of those anti-CSG yellow triangular signs hanging on gates around our property.

I have read countless articles on the potential effect CSG mining has on the quality of our water.

With that in mind, I was angered and disappointed by some of the comments made at the CSG protest on Avenue Rd a couple of days ago.

I was instructed by a number of protesters to "zoom in and only take photos of the earthmoving trucks, especially the business name on the side of them".

My response to these protestors was firm.

I wasn't there to take a distorted view of what was happening.

I wasn't going to ignore the fact there were police present and that protester numbers had slimmed.

I wasn't going to ignore the fact that there were earthworks being undertaken at the site, but I also wasn't going to photograph a distorted view of what was happening on that day at Glenugie.

I raised the following point with two of the protesters and will raise it again should I be confronted on the issue.

I am good mates with one of the local fellows who yesterday copped abuse from protesters for simply doing his job.

He too is against CSG and has anti-CSG signs on his property, but none of this was taken into account by the angry protesters.

I occasionally get asked by my bosses to do something which I don't necessarily enjoy, or agree with, but I do it anyway, because I value having a job.

I presume it's the same with the local company concerned.

A job is a job. Work is work.

If they don't provide the materials and manpower, somebody else will.

I understand the frustration and anger felt by many people about this test-drilling site, but we all need to recognise that at the end of the day, these invective remarks will have no impact whatsoever on the company responsible for drilling for CSG.

By hurling abuse at these innocent workers, all that is achieved is a barrier between the protesters, who are standing up for their beliefs, and the workmen, decent people who are just doing their jobs.