AFTER years of protesting against potential hydraulic fracturing in the South East, the Limestone Coast Protection Alliance celebrated its legislative win of a 10-year moratorium over the weekend.
Group members were joined by the public and supporters on Sunday for the ‘Because we can influence our State Government’ event following the passage of the South East-specific embargo on unconventional gas exploration.
Independent MP Troy Bell’s bill, which sought to bolster the Marshall Government’s existing ministerial-directed South East fracking ban, passed both houses with the support of the Liberal Party.
Alliance chair Angus Ralton cited the passage of the bill as a relief after five years of persistent government lobbying.
“It has been a long struggle, but we are glad to have finally got a moratorium on fracking in the South East,” he said.
“The Liberal Party promised us a 10-year moratorium and if they lose the next election, Labor have told us time and time again they will get fracking going in the South East.
“Labor has already demonstrated they were prepared to rush over the community to satisfy the mining industry and we needed to get though to the State Government we do not want this.”
Alliance members travelled to Adelaide in July to witness Greens MLC Mark Parnell attempt to introduce amendments to the legislation.
The 20-strong group was joined by Mr Parnell, Mr Bell and Member for MacKillop Nick McBride at a demonstration at the front of Government House, before moving into the Legislative Council to watch the vote on Mr Parnell’s bill.
Ultimately, the bill was defeated in the upper house with a vote of 17 to four, with only Mr Parnell and Greens colleague Tammy Franks and SA-Best MLCs Frank Pangallo and Connie Bonaros voting in favour of the legislated ban.
Mr Ralton said the lack of support during the first vote spurred the group to continue its lobbying efforts.
“We were quite disheartened, but we never believed legislating it was impossible and importantly, we never had the idea to give up,” he said.
“What we were fighting for is too important.”
Ahead of the September vote, the Mount Gambier branch of the Liberal Party joined the growing number of voices calling for a legislated ban, saying they were “concerned” the existing
moratorium alone “does not provide sufficient certainty in the event of a future change in government”.
Federal MP Tony Pasin and Mr McBride also publicly backed the environmental group’s call for a decade-long ban.
Despite the widespread support, Mr Ralton said the group was “prepared for defeat” when Mr Bell’s bill was up for debate.
“It was a rather pleasant surprise when the Liberals capitulated and saw that our way was the way to proceed,” he said.
“In the end, they had to put their words into action in order to give them credibility.”
While praising the efforts of the State Liberals, the Greens and SA-Best, Mr Ralton condemned the actions of the Labor Party, singling out Upper House MLCs Clare Scriven and Kyam Maher.
“They ran out of the house so they would not be on the record which is unbelievably cowardly,” he said.
“However, I could not thank enough the actions of Troy, Nick and in the upper house Mark Parnell from the Greens for their continued support.
“Their work in the area of policy is invaluable.”
