It’s a ‘fracking lie’ say Victorian Liberals

ONE of the big points of contention in the ‘great debate’ (that no one watched) was the fracking gas issue.

The Premier Daniel Andrews said if the Coalition wanted onshore gas, they would have to authorise fracking, which involves drilling into the earth and directing a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals at a rock layer, to ‘fracture’ it, and release the gas inside.

The fracturing of the rock layers risks contaminating underground water reserves.

The debate resonates in Gippsland where there was a major ‘Lock the Gate to CSG’ campaign in 2012.

But the Coalition says Mr Andrews’ claims are “a lie” meant to drive voters away from the Coalition.

Here’s what the Liberal Shadow Minister for Renewables and Energy David Southwick said.

“Daniel Andrews’ big fracking lie has been exposed.

“Daniel Andrews has claimed repeatedly there are no reserves of onshore conventional gas in Victoria.

“This is a lie. The Lead Scientist’s Victorian Gas Report stated “there is likely to be 128-830 petajoules of commercially feasible onshore conventional gas yet to be discovered in the state.”

“Daniel Andrews has claimed the only way to access new onshore gas is via fracking.

“This is a lie. The Lead Scientist’s Victorian Gas Report stated “that developing these gas resources to secure local gas supply would not compromise the state’s groundwater supplies or agricultural sector” and that “It would have a negligible impact on Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Daniel Andrews has claimed there is a new report that supersedes the findings of the Chief Scientists Victorian Gas Program report in 2020.

“This is a lie. A spokesperson for the Lead Scientist has stated there has been no subsequent report handed to the government.

“Victorians won’t be fooled by Daniel Andrews’ desperate scare campaigns, lies and smear or his verballing and politicisation of public servants.

“Only a vote for the Liberals and Nationals will ease energy prices without fracking.”