LIBERAL MP-elect Nick McBride has welcomed his party’s commitment to implementing a moratorium on fracking in the South East in the first week of a new State Government.
The embargo on unconventional gas exploration in the South East is among a suite of policy and legislative initiatives outlined in Premier Steven Marshall’s first 100 days of office document.
The moratorium is expected to be delivered within seven days.
Mr McBride said the immediate move to implement the moratorium demonstrated the Liberal Party’s commitment to the regions.
“This provides the community with the assurance the Liberal Party and Premier Steven Marshall are wasting no time to make sure promises are being kept,” he said.
“It also addresses the community’s fears and provides an assurance to existing businesses to continue to grow and create jobs.”
Independent and key moratorium proponent Troy Bell was “ecstatic” to see his former Liberal colleagues honour their pre-election pledge.
“It took me a long time to get that through and to see it now coming to being enforced is very pleasing,” he said.
“I think it gives us an assurance that no fracking can occur for 10 years and it gives people of the South East peace of mind that we have a solid position.”
Limestone Coast Protection Alliance committee member Merilyn Paxton supported the immediate implementation of the moratorium, but stressed the environmental lobby group would continue to push for a legislative ban on the practice.
“We’re really looking forward to the moratorium being put in place, but at this stage it is just a verbal promise,” she said.
“We would still like the State Government to put in place a total ban on any gas exploration or development in the Limestone Coast and Otway Basin.
“The Federal Government has been deeply critical of states and territories that have imposed fracking bans or moratoriums.
“With the Council of Australian Governments meeting taking place in April, we will monitor it closely to see if the outcome of that meeting will change any plans for the moratorium.”
However, industry bodies have expressed their concerns with the moratorium, with the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy down-voting the Liberal Party’s policy on their resources sector election scorecard.
A Beach Energy spokesperson said while the company’s South East focus has solely been on the rejuvenation of conventional gas development, they were concerned with any policy “that seeks to inhibit the development of a clean and reliable source of energy”.
The spokesperson said Beach will seek to work with the State Liberal Government in relation to the policy.
