A stoush over a cancelled coal seam gas (CSG) protest meeting has escalated with federal senator Glenn Lazarus calling for an investigation into claims energy company Santos pressured a club it sponsors not to host the event.
Activists from the North West Alliance have accused Santos of pressuring the Narrabri golf club not to host an anti-CSG meeting on Saturday at which Senator Lazarus was due to speak.
Santos has rejected the accusation.
Senator Lazarus, a strong campaigner against the CSG mining industry in his home state of Queensland, said in a statement he was "absolutely disgusted" by the bullying allegation and would be raising the issue with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
"I want this issue fully investigated," he said.
North West Alliance member Rohan Boehm said the long-standing booking to hold Saturday's meeting of about 100 people at the Narrabri Golf Club was cancelled with two days' notice.
Mr Boehm said he was informed by the organisers that the golf club, which is sponsored by Santos, had been asked to consider its position.
"This is an extraordinary turn of events," he said.
"Santos is bullying this community and trying to shut down questions and dissent."
Santos NSW general manager for energy Peter Mitchley said the company respected the right of individuals to protest and did not pressure the club.
"Santos did not threaten to pull sponsorship from the Narrabri Golf Club, nor did we request that they cancel the event," Mr Mitchley said in a statement.
"In no way did Santos put any pressure on the Narrabri Golf Club to cancel the event."
Santos is seeking to develop CSG mining in the Pilliga region near Narrabri in northern NSW.
A wastewater treatment plant development at the project has been the target of recent protest action.
A representative of the Narrabri Golf Club declined to comment on the matter.
The North West Alliance meeting has been relocated to the Crossing Theatre in Narrabri.
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