Queensland Resources Council boss describes death of anti-CSG activist as a ‘gift’ for Lock the Gate

It’s believed a number of QRC board members believed Michael Roche’s comments in the wake of a Queensland farmer’s death were inappropriate.

December 21, 2015 11:35am

Jason TinThe Courier-Mail

QUEENSLAND Resources Council boss Michael Roche described the death of a Queensland farmer as a “gift” to green activists in a memo written to board members to fend off internal criticism.

The QRC chief executive came under fire in October over a statement he issued after George Bender, a prominent anti-coal-seam-gas campaigner, took his own life.

The statement, which offered condolences to the Bender family and noted the industry was “saddened” by Mr Bender’s passing, also controversially claimed public debate had been “hijacked” by some activists and politicians after the tragedy.

It is understood a number of QRC board members believed Mr Roche’s comments in the wake of Mr Bender’s death were inappropriate, with some raising concerns with the peak resources body.

In an extraordinary two-page memo obtained by The Courier-Mail, Mr Roche defended his actions to board members, arguing he had “been hoping that the strong media focus might abate after Mr Bender’s funeral … but instead it went to a new level”.

“For anti-coal and anti-gas group Lock the Gate, this tragic set of circumstances has been a gift,” he wrote in the October 28 memo.

George Bender. Picture: Lock The Gate

Mr Roche wrote that the controversial October 27 media statement, which he described as a “carefully worded circuit breaker”, was part of an attempt to “head off reactive support for the head of steam Lock the Gate was building on the back of Mr Bender’s death”

The QRC boss insisted the statement was respectful of the Bender family and said the feedback had been “overwhelmingly positive”. Mr Roche acknowledged in the memo that two QRC members had expressed concerns about the statement.

“I take such feedback very seriously but in the end it was my judgment that the time had come to push back because land access for all members was (and is) under threat,” he said.

The Courier-Mail understands some QRC members are unhappy with Mr Roche’s advocacy, believing him to be too focused on publicly battling activists, rather than tackling issues such as royalties and red tape.

Mr Roche issued a statement saying “the council does not discuss publicly confidential board matters.”

Independent Queensland Senator Glenn Lazarus took aim at Mr Roche’s comments.

“If these comments are correct then they’re sickening comments, which do not reflect the sentiment of the people,” Senator Lazarus said.

He said the remarks failed to reflect “the feeling of the community and an understanding of the genuine shift that is happening across the country and across the world in relation to energy resources”.

Senator Lazarus has advocated for a “national approach to the conduct and management of CSG mining activities”.

Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters said Mr Bender’s death was a “devastating tragedy”.

“The continuing insensitivity of the mining industry to the wishes and needs of farmers and Queenslanders for clean water and farm land speaks volumes about the priorities of this industry,” she said.

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