THE Labor state government says a new report has justified its stance against onshore gas in Victoria.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, Minister for Resources Tim Pallas launched the first Victorian Gas Program Progress Report, carried out as part of the Victorian Gas Program set up in the wake of the state\u2019s ban on fracking and unconventional gas.<\/p>\n
The report notes that the \u201cpotential for onshore conventional gas is relatively small compared to past production and known offshore gas reserves in Bass Strait\u201d, but that \u201cthe existing estimates for onshore conventional gas resources are based on desktop assessments\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile gas might be present, it may not be able to be extracted in a way that is safe, technically possible or commercially viable.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are differing estimates of how much conventional gas might be present in the Otways, the report states, \u201creflecting uncertainties inherent in the underlying data, use of different estimation methods and differing definitions of the geographical area under assessment, and whether or not unconventional gas is included\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Geological Survey of Victoria considers the Port Campbell area the \u201cmost prospective for new conventional gas discoveries\u201d, with a \u201cworking estimate\u201d of 110 petajoules of onshore gas.<\/p>\n
By comparison, there are an estimated 10,738 petajoules of offshore gas in Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing the historic banning of fracking and coal seam gas extraction to protect farming, we have invested in science to produce a sound gas resource estimate and assessment of risks,\u201d Mr Pallas said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur approach is in contrast to the Turnbull Government and the Prime Minister for Sydney, who continues to play politics on this issue and whose instinct is to drill and damn the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
The state Opposition supports an onshore conventional gas industry in Victoria, as does the Coalition federal government and Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel Andrews wants to continue his do-nothing approach to gas and just hope for the best,\u201d Victorian Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources David Southwick said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndustry is ready to go on conventional gas. It\u2019s time Daniel Andrews got out of their way, stopped conflating conventional gas with fracking, and got on board with the Liberal Nationals policy to kickstart conventional gas.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Labor state government says a new report has justified its stance against onshore gas in Victoria. Earlier this month, Minister for Resources Tim Pallas launched the first Victorian Gas Program Progress Report, carried out as part of the Victorian Gas Program set up in the wake of the state\u2019s ban on fracking and unconventional […]<\/p>\n