MOUNT Gambier’s political aspirants were unanimous in backing a moratorium on fracking in the South East at the Limestone Coast Protection Alliance’s candidates forum.
Incumbent independent MP Troy Bell, Liberal Craig Marsh, independent Richard Sage, Greens candidate Gavin Clarke, SA-Best’s Kate Amoroso, Dignity Party candidate Lance Jones and Gregg Bisset of the Australian Conservatives overwhelmingly rejected unconventional gas exploration in the region.
Labor candidate for Mount Gambier Isabel Scriven did not attend the debate, with Mr Bell highlighting the party’s absence as a “notable exception”.
“What concerns me is we are not the people that need to be talking here tonight,” he said.
“You only need to read five seconds of Hansard to know what (Treasurer Tom) Koutsantonis and (Premier Jay) Weatherill want to do down here.
“The fight is not here, the fight is in Adelaide.”
Around 40 people gathered at the Main Corner complex on Monday evening to hear the policies of the contenders for the seat of Mount Gambier.
Candidates responded to the alliance’s pre-arranged questions about gas extraction and renewable energy in the South East, including water security, potential health issues and liabilities in the case of an “environmental catastrophe”.
Australian Conservatives candidate Gregg Bisset reiterated his party’s pledge for a legislative ban on fracking in the South East, while Greens candidate Gavin Clarke supported both a ban and supporting existing industries to transition to renewables.
“I’m incredibly scared about the risk of fracking and – by extension – gas expansion into the South East,” Mr Clarke said.
“When you have a well for conventional gas mining, that’s just a well that’s potentially set up for fracking.
“It’s just too great a risk.”
Mr Clarke fired shots at the Coalition Government’s failure to develop “any sensitive energy policy”, urging voters to put their faith in the environmentally-aligned party ahead of Labor and Liberals.
However, Liberal candidate for Mount Gambier Craig Marsh struck back at the Greens candidate, telling him any moratorium would be impossible without their support.
“I do not know why you say you cannot trust us, you actually cannot do it without us,” he said.
“We’re the only major party that has a policy to ban fracking for 10 years.
“If you form government with Labor, they are going to frack the South East.”
Limestone Coast Protection Alliance chair Brett Mashado welcomed the unified position of the candidates, but expressed disappointment over Labor’s absence.
“I would like to thank all of the candidates who attended the evening and express disappointment the Labor candidate declined the invitation,” he said.
“It was important to hear the candidates in a public forum answer the questions.
“To really safeguard the jobs in existing industries, the health and wellbeing of communities and the water resources needed to feed generations to come – a ban on all gas exploration and development in the region must be implemented.
“Renewable energy and storage is cheaper, cleaner and achievable now.
“Exploring for gas now will lock us into higher energy bills now and into the future.”
