Fracking ban turns two

VICTORIA’S fracking ban turned two last week, and Labor is arguing only it can be trusted to maintain the ban.

In September 2016, the Andrews government permanently banned the exploration and development of onshore unconventional gas in Victoria, including hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking) – and coal seam gas.

The decision to ban fracking formed part of the response to the 2015 parliamentary inquiry into onshore unconventional gas in Victoria, an inquiry which received more than 1,600 submissions, most of them opposed to onshore unconventional gas.

The ban also included a moratorium on conventional onshore gas exploration and development, which has been extended to June 30, 2020.

Labor says Victoria is the nation’s top food and fibre producer, with exports worth $13 billion, and the permanent ban protects the state’s farmers and preserves Victoria’s reputation for producing high quality food.

“Two years ago we put farmers first and ended fracking forever. Only Labor will keep it that way,” Treasurer and Minister for Resources Tim Pallas said.

“You can’t trust the Liberals and Nationals on fracking. The federal government is trying to open up agricultural land across the country to dangerous, dirty fracking and if given the chance, Matthew Guy will do it here in Victoria.”

The state Opposition supports an onshore conventional gas industry, as does the Coalition federal government and Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson.

There has been widespread opposition to unconventional gas in the Geelong region, with several towns declaring themselves gasfield-free and the City of Greater Geelong and the Surf Coast Shire stating they wanted no part of the industry.