THE latest Southern Highlands Coal Action Group (SHCAG) meeting at Sutton Forest Hall on Thursday was designed to be as non-political as possible.
Throsby MP Stephen Jones had his say along with the four NSW Goulburn candidates.
SHCAG head Peter Martin said he wanted the issue of coal mining and coal seam gas extraction to be a bi-partisan issue ? but that didn't stop the NSW parliamentary hopefuls using their first public get-together to press their case.
John Hatton Independent and former ALP candidate Rob Parker threw down the gauntlet to sitting Liberal MP Pru Goward.
He challenged her to promise that if coal mining went ahead in the Sutton Forest she would resign from the likely Coalition government.
Ms Goward labelled the challenge "cheap politicking" and said she was confident no mining would proceed in the Highlands under a Coalition government.
"I believe if Pru Goward was elected, despite this hopeful policy, and Pru has got every confidence in this policy, that she hasn't outlined to us, I think we are going to see coal mining here and the Coalition's track record in the long term is they are going to walk away from this," Mr Parker said.
"I am throwing that challenge up to you that you will resign from the Coalition if we see a coal mine here, that's the deal. I am prepared to sign a stat dec that I will never ever join any of the parties to support this. That's my pledge."
Mr Parker said stopping mining would be the central platform of his campaign and his mandate if elected.
Ms Goward found herself on the back foot without a Labor candidate to take the heat for the government.
She was unable to outline what the Coalition's policy on mining would be, but promised when it was released, at an unspecified date in the future, the community would all be impressed.
"We're not opposed to mining, we are not opposed to economic growth, we are not opposed to agriculture. But we have to get the balance right," Ms Goward said.
"I do regret I am not able to release it (the mining policy). Please keep the faith and wait for that announcement before the end of February."
The Greens' Maree Byrne had the Coalition in the firing line and accused them of catering to mining interests. Ms Goward took offence to the stereotyping and showed her parliamentary skills with a few jeers of "rubbish" towards the end of Mrs Byrne's speech.
"The Greens have a policy on this issue, we want to form an independent planning authority, it is a simple solution ? we will no longer be at the mercy of the minister," Mrs Byrne said.
"It annoys me when policies are kept secret until two or three weeks before an election.
"Visionary policy, long-term policy does not need to be informed by the latest polls or negotiations with the mining companies ? it should be declared early.
"Heaven forbid the Coalition should win a landslide in both houses because I fear they will return to their roots and it will be open slather for mining."
Four Wingecarribee councillors showed up and Larry Whipper reiterated the council's support for the SHCAG.
But the most impressive speaker was John Thompson from the Lock the Gate Alliance, a national group of 60 groups opposed to coal developments based in the Hunter Valley.
His thick Canadian accent and tall stature gave him a Churchill-like presence.
He let the would-be politicians and MPs know in no uncertain terms what the community expected of them.
"It's your job to stand up in your party room, it's your job to stand up in parliament and let them know that you take a stand on these issue and you demand that these changes take affect," he said.
"We're going to win this one and it's going to take all of you to commit your voice to make that happen."
o Footage of the meeting on the multimedia section of our website
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