RESOURCES Minister Josh Frydenberg has refused to back his Nationals colleagues' calls for farmers to be allowed to veto coal seam gas on their land, but said he will meet with state leaders to discuss a way forward.
On Monday night, federal Nationals senator Fiona Nash said state and territory laws should be changed so farmers are allowed to block CSG mining on their properties.
Nationals leader Warren Truss also said he believes farmers should be able to veto exploration and extraction on their properties.
The calls come in the midst of the death of anti-coal seam gas farmer, George Bender, who took his own life, and has become a symbol for anti-CSG activists.
Asked about Senator Nash's stance, Mr Frydenberg simply said the laws were in the domain of state and territory governments and farmers should come to an agreement with companies.
"Constitutionally this is the legislative domain of the states.
"We certainly want farmers to reach an agreement with the gas companies before any of these projects go ahead and if you look at NSW there has been a voluntary set of principles," he said.
He said the issue would be at the forefront of December's meeting with state and territory leaders.
"I can bring the state ministers together to plan a way forward...
"I chair the COAG energy council it will be meeting in December. I want to put the issue on the agenda so we can discuss how we share best practice," he said. He said farmers' rights should be considered.
"I think a lot of important concerns have been raised in regards to the coal seam gas process, we do need to ensure people's rights are protected and that their land and water resources are not adversely affected," he said.
Mr Frydenberg bought into the nuclear debate, restarted by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's comments on his trip to South Australia, where he backed the creation of a nuclear fuel industry in Australia that experts say could be worth up to $35 billion for the state.
Mr Frydenberg said "certainly it's worth looking at nuclear energy" but said other sources of power might be more cost effective at the moment.
"Australia does have deep reserves of low-cost uranium, we do export it to other countries in the world...But we've also got an abundance of coal and an abundance of gas and that does need to be taken into account."
