Fracking a by-election issue

THE Australian Greens see the Gippsland South by-election as a referendum on coal seam gas extraction.
The party last week claimed pressure from rural communities and the Greens had forced the National Party to adjust its position on coal seam gas.
The Nationals now support landowners having the right to say no to coal seam gas extraction activity on their property if the industry is approved in Victoria.
Coal seam gas mining in Victoria is now subject to a moratorium while environmental impact studies set up by the previous State Government are undertaken.
The moratorium stopped any hydraulic fracking activity, and coal seam gas exploration or extraction licences until more is known about how it might affect water and land assets.
The Nationals candidate for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, said his party was talking and listening to voters, and will not support an industry if it is proven to have a negative environmental impact.
Legislation is in place so that BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) chemicals can never be used in any future fracking practice.
Mr O’Brien said, “We are lucky in that NSW and Queensland are ahead of us and we can learn from their experience.
“The National Party is taking a conservative and cautious approach to this issue It is an evolution. The interest is an important one but not the most important. I am more interested in our roads.”
If the Greens has its way, the by-election will become a referendum on coal seam gas fracking.
Greens energy and resources spokesperson Ellen Sandell said, “The Nationals and Liberals will be fighting for Greens’ voters’ second preferences which has likely led to this change of National Party policy.”
“It’s great news the Nationals have changed their position on coal seam gas fracking due to pressure from the community and the Greens,” she said.
“However, they still do not support a permanent moratorium on fracking, which is what the communities need and the Greens are calling for.
“The voters of South Gippsland are deeply concerned about the impacts of fracking on their farmland and groundwater.
“With strong candidates from the National Party and the Liberal Party contesting the seat, second preferences from Greens voters will likely determine who wins in Gippsland South.”

By Stuart Biggins

Gippsland South candidate Danny O’Brien of The Nationals, who now support landowners having the right to say no to coal seam gas extraction activity on their property.

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Posted by Laura Gibb on Mar 3 2015. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry