WESTERN Australian parliamentarians have met with Kalangadoo farmer and amateur filmmaker David Smith as they continue to shape their policy around the controversial unconventional gas industry.
Mr Smith – who self-funded the Pipe Dreams Fractured Lives documentary – was in Perth last week at the invitation of Member for Kalamunda Matthew Hughes to meet with around 10 state bureaucrats, with the visit coinciding with the Ban Fracking in WA rally at Parliament House.
Mr Hughes is currently campaigning for a state-wide ban on hydraulic fracture stimulation (fracking) to deliver on an election promise made in 2017 when he achieved a 12.7pc voting swing in the seat of Kalamunda to become the electorate’s first Labor Government representative in history.
The government is now considering the findings of its Independent Scientific Panel Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation in Western Australia, which was finalised last month, 12 months after a statewide moratorium on fracking was introduced.
The Labor MP also sponsored a screening of Mr Smith’s film – which highlights the effects of the unconventional gas industry in selected American communities – with around 30 residents attending the Forrestfield event.
Mr Smith said both screenings were met with positive views.
“The politicians have requested more copies, they want to get it out to their other colleagues,” Mr Smith said.
“They were pretty unanimous after the screening that ‘we have to get this out, it is a great message’.
“It is kicking some goals to be screening it in front of the MPs and then for them to request it.”
Mr Smith said a shortened edition of the film would now be produced for the parliamentarians to distribute.
Mr Hughes said it was a privilege to host Mr Smith last week.
“I acknowledge and thank David for his personal investment in time and money to educate people about the dangers of fracking, climate change is at a critical point and the emissions from fracking will only contribute to global warming,” Mr Hughes said.
“Fields of produce should not be turned into fields of gas, where this has occurred, the results have been devastating to those communities.
“Fracking does not contribute positively to communities and if we care about communities then our community’s health should be prioritised.”
Hydraulic fracture stimulation uses the high-pressure injection of fluid – including several chemicals – into gas or oil bearing rock formations to trigger greater mineral flow for extraction.
The targeted rock formations are typically found two to five kilometres below the earth’s surface.
Last month the South Australian Government legislated a 10-year fracking ban for the South East following a grassroots environmental campaign which was spearheaded by Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell at parliamentary level.
