Fracking will return under Coalition, says Labor Minister

THE Labor party came out swinging right from Berrys Creek stating they believe the Coalition will reintroduce fracking following their announcement to legislate a 100 per cent domestic reservation policy on all new conventional onshore gas.

According to the Coalition, the policy would see 100 per cent of new natural gas supplies reserved for the state. 

In response, Minister for Environment and Climate Action Lily D'Ambrosio, Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing and Gippsland South Candidate Denise Ryan held a media stand up at Fergus and Deb O’Connor’s property in Berrys Creek.

The couple had campaigned against fracking in recent years due to the threats it caused to their livelihood. 

This follows the State Government’s ban on fracking in 2017, which includes onshore unconventional gas, with the Constitution Amendment (Fracking Ban) Bill 2020 passing last year.  

Minister Lily D'Ambrosio said as scientists and research had indicated there were no known sources of onshore conventional gas in the state, this meant the Coalition would reintroduce fracking. 
“Matthew Guy wants us to believe that somehow there is (gas sources), but there isn’t, which really tells you that his interests are about fracking,” she said. 

“That's the only way he's going to be able to turbocharge gas production in Victoria is through fracking pristine farmland, fracking and poisoning our water and absolutely poisoning the livelihood of Victorians.”

Fergus O’Connor said it was very simple: 

“Three per cent of arable land in Australia. We produce 29 per cent of the nation’s produce, so why would you want to stuff it up?” He said.

“We’re farmers, we want our water protected and our land protected and it’s so simple, that’s what farmers do, we feed the nation.

“And anybody who wants to take that away from us is up for a big fight.”

While Harriet Shing MP added, “Let’s be really clear. The chief scientist has been crystal clear. There is no viable onshore gas reserves.”

A moratorium had been placed for onshore gas exploration and development in Victoria during 2012, but in 2020, the Petroleum Legislation Amendment Act 2020 was passed by the Victorian Parliament, which allowed for the restart of onshore conventional gas exploration and production.

In July 2021, the Onshore Conventional Gas sector restarted.

A member of the press queried the Minister on the moratorium and what this meant if reserves were found since it had been lifted.

“No one, no gas industry figure has been able to find any onshore gas, onshore conventional gas in Victoria,” Ms D’Ambrosio said. 

“If there was any gas there, it could have been found in the last two years, but it hasn’t been.

“No one has been stopped from finding onshore conventional gas in Victoria since that moratorium was lifted.”

The Minister further highlighted the government’s push for renewable energy such as offshore wind, and the restart of the State Electricity Commission as ways of leading the state’s future energy supply. 

Report suggests gas supply

However, Nationals Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien, who welcomed the Coalition’s announcement, said a 2020 report confirmed that Victoria potentially has up to six years’ worth of conventional onshore gas supply.

The Victorian Gas Program Progress Report was undertaken by Geological Survey of Victoria, which embarked on a three-year suite of geoscientific, environmental and social studies known as the Victorian Gas Program.

It identified potentially significant onshore conventional gas resources, particularly in the Otway Basin, with the Victorian Gas Program’s geoscientific investigations concluding that there is likely to be 128-830 petajoules of commercially feasible onshore conventional gas yet to be discovered in the state.

“Production of the estimated gas resources could generate around $300 million annually for regional economies and create up to 6400 jobs over the lifespan of these projects,” the report states. 

“South-West Victoria and Gippsland would be the main regions to benefit, where potentially significant onshore conventional gas resources were identified.

“The program’s environmental studies showed that developing these gas resources to secure local gas supply would not compromise the state’s groundwater supplies or agricultural sector.”

Mr O’Brien said The Nationals will ensure the domestic gas reservation policy is legislated within the first six months of forming government.

“The Andrew’s Labor Government has blocked this gas from being used which has impacted supply and pushed prices even higher,” he said.

“Higher energy prices are hurting Gippsland families and accessing and using our natural gas reserves right here in Victoria can help ease that burden. 

“We have seen a domestic gas reservation policy work in Western Australia since 2006 and it just makes sense for Victoria to do the same.

“Our plan continues the ban on fracking and gives veto rights to landowners against gas companies while also offering an incentive via a share of gas royalties to landowners.”