THE Knitting Nannas Against Gas had only one reason for setting up their stools in front of Oatley MP Mark Coure's office at Hurstville on Monday.
They wanted a promise of an immediate permanent ban on coal seam gas mining in sensitive water catchment areas including the Woronora-Nepean river systems which provide Sydney with water.
Mr Coure was just one politician on their lobby list.
The politician was in dad mode to begin with. "Can you knit something in red and white for my eight-month-old son?" he asked the ladies who were mostly using yellow and black yarn, their campaign colours.
But Mr Coure soon switched to politician mode when nanna spokeswoman Cherry Hardaker from Bulli pressed him about a promise to support a permanent ban.
To paraphrase his position, Mr Coure said NSW had the toughest laws on coal seam gas mining; his government had inherited this from the previous Labor government which "issued CSG licences like drunken sailors" . . . "I've always been against it and always will be" — and there is a temporary moratorium on it.
Mrs Hardaker stuck her knitting needle into the word "temporary", despite Mr Coure trying to distract her.
"We need the word 'permanent' in big capital letters," she said.
"With a temporary ban you look like you are postponing it until after the election. You need to make the ban permanent before the election."
The nannas finally got what they wanted.
"Okay, I support a permanent ban — no coal seam gas mining in special areas and I'll be happy to take the message to the Premier," Mr Coure said.
Somewhat gratified, the nannas promised to knit Mr Coure's son a red and white St George scarf.
But they know the battle is nowhere near won.
Find out more at a meeting on Sunday, November 23, at Mortdale RSL, starting at 11am.
Is the government doing enough to protect our waterways?
