Tasmania Bans Fracking for Agriculture

Liberal government announces extended moratorium to protect clean produce reputation but Northern Territory says practice can continue

The ban announced on Thursday, which follows a lengthy review and more than 150 submissions, means that the state follows Victoria in outlawing the practice commonly used to source coal seam gas.

However, fracking will be still be allowed in Northern Territory after a long-awaited report said there was "no justification" for a moratorium.

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The Hawke report released on Thursday said it was environmentally manageable to carry out under strict regulation.

Tasmania's primary industries minister, Jeremy Rockliff, said uncertainty around fracking should not put at risk Tasmania's reputation for producing fresh, premium and safe produce.

"There is considerable concern around the potential negative impacts of fracking, particularly within our rural communities and farming families," he said.

"After consideration, advice and consultation, it is prudent that we introduce a five-year moratorium on fracking inTasmania."

However, the state's Liberal government insists it supports exploration for resources such as shale gas and petroleum, without the use of fracking.

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Authorities will continue to monitor national and international developments to understand fracking better and will conduct another review before the ban expires in March 2020.

State and territory governments across Australia are facing increasing pressure from farmers, environmentalists and community groups about fracking. It has been blocked in Victoria and there are calls for similar ban sin South Australia and Western Australia.

In NT, the inquiry commissioner, Allan Hawke, was asked to examine evidence of environmental impacts of the practice and to provide recommendations in mitigating them.

It made six recommendations, which the government "broadly accepted," including the rejection of a moratorium.

The report found "the environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing can be managed effectively subject to the creation of a robust regulatory regime" including the formation of a sub-committee of ministers to determine best practise, and a restructure of the NT Environmental Assessment Act.

Hawke wrote that "it was apparent from submissions, public meetings and discussions that there is confusion or poor understanding within the community about some aspects of hydraulic fracturing".

He said an ideological position had been fanned by documentaries such as Gaslands and The Sky Is Pink.

Source: The Guardian

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• Agriculture
• Fracking