Barnaby Joyce has rejected outright the use of an export power in the constitution to stop the Shenhua Watermark mine, saying it would be “economically and socially disastrous”. “If it’s being covered by the international trade and commerce [export] power, then yes it covers production in Australia destined for export,” Williams said. One is the export power, the other is an external affairs power. “Governments can use the power to regulate any mining and production in Australia which is used for exports,” Williams said. “It would be economically and socially disastrous to impose such a prohibition on all coal or all gas exports.

Source: The Guardian June 08, 2016 04:52 UTC