Seventy-nine farmers, landholders and Traditional Owners from every state and territory across Australia have united, sending a letter to Minister Josh Frydenberg and the state ministers calling on them to give landholders the right to say ‘no’ to mining.
In October, Minister Frydenberg assured land owners that he would put the issue of the right to say 'no' on the agenda of the next meeting of COAG Mining and Energy Ministers due to be held this Friday.
The group is seeking the legal right for landholders and Traditional Owners to say ‘no’ to access by coal and unconventional gas mining companies.
Those that have signed the letter include that have signed the letter include Traditional Owners from the Kimberley, the Northern Territory and New South Wales.
Phil Laird, National Coordinator at Lock the Gate Alliance, says it's about the power balance when striking an agreement.