The Greens, Pauline Hanson, Bob Katter, Andrew Wilkie and Jackie Lambie have all publicly advocated for water and landholders’ rights over mining, while Nick Xenophon has championed the extension of the crucial Federal “water trigger” legislation to shale gas fracking.

Lock the Gate spokesman Phil Laird said Australians have again voted in a Senate crossbench who wanted landscapes and water protected from mining.

“The entry of small parties and independents into the balance of power in the Senate is an opportunity for Australia to protect people, communities, water and rural economies from damaging coal and coal seam gas mining,” Laird said.

“The commitments and on-record comments from the majority of likely crossbench Senators show the Australian Senate would be unlikely to weaken any laws that protect water resources from coal and unconventional gas and mining, and we hope that such laws can be strengthened.

“Cooperation by the crossbench Senators to control coal and gas mining would have broad community support.

“Two-thirds of voters oppose easing restrictions on CSG exploration, according to an ABC Vote Compass poll taken in the lead-up to this election. Polling in NSW has shown a majority of voters think coal and gas mining has done more harm than good, and that voters in four Coalition-held electorates support a moratorium on new coal mines.

“Farmers, traditional owners and the broad community have come together across the nation in an unprecedented movement to protect land and water resources from mining impacts, according to Laird.

“Cooperation to tackle the effects of coal and gas mining is not only possible: it is imperative,” he said.