Up to 3,000 people have donned yellow clothing in the New South Wales north coast town of Murwillumbah as they march in protest to coal seam gas mining.
They were joined by about 1,000 protesters in Sydney's inner-west, who formed a human sign spelling out "Stop CSG".
Murwillumbah rally spokeswoman Amanda Shoebridge says comments by the New South Wales Government this week that coal seam gas mining is inevitable failed to dampen the community's resolve.
"People will really, after news like that, dig their heels in and say well 'actually mate, no, no we're not going to allow CSG in here and you don't have social licence to do it, you don't have the approval of the community and it's not going to happen'," she said.
Stop CSG Sydney spokeswoman Jacinta Green says there is nothing to prevent miners exploring the Sydney basin, water catchments and prime agricultural land.
"Not one inch of New South Wales has been left off limits to the coal seam gas industry," she said.
Similar protests are set to be held across the country as part of a national week of action against the CSG industry.
Protesters are concerned state governments are not doing enough to protect the environment from coal seam gas mining.
Murwillumbah rally spokeswoman Amanda Shoebridge says comments by the New South Wales Government this week that coal seam gas mining is inevitable
Is it really?
"People will really, after news like that, dig their heels in and say well 'actually mate, no, no we're not going to allow CSG in here and you don't have social licence to do it, you don't have the approval of the community and it's not going to happen',"
Does the government give a rat's behind about community concerns, and does it even have the power to stop CSG exploration?
Or is it too busy quarrelling about sexism and misogyny!?
