Government introduces fracking moratorium in Tasmania

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Fracking rig Image credit: flickr user: Quadrofonic Wingnut

The Hodgman Liberal Government has announced that it will introduce a five-year moratorium on the mining practice of fracking after consideration of a review conducted by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment together with the Environment Protection Authority and Mineral Resources Tasmania.

Fracking rig Image credit: flickr user: Quadrofonic Wingnut
Fracking rig
Image credit: flickr user: Quadrofonic Wingnut

The Government said the measure was introduced as a precautionary principle to safeguard the State’s thriving agriculture industry against any adverse impacts that could prevent it from achieving its ability to grow tenfold to $10 billion a year by 2050.

The Liberal Government said that in adopting this prudent approach it took into account the review’s findings and subsequent industry and community representations, as well as the 157 submissions it received as part of the review, which concluded earlier this month.

The Minister for Primary Industries and Water Jeremy Rockliff said the measure would protect Tasmania’s reputation for producing fresh, premium and safe produce, given the uncertainty surrounding the process of fracking.

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“There is considerable concern around the potential negative impacts of fracking, particularly within our rural communities and farming families who rely so heavily on our global reputation for producing premium and safe products,” he said.

“It is also clear that there is considerable concern for landowners’ rights and public and environmental health. After consideration, advice and consultation, it is prudent that we introduce a five year moratorium on fracking in Tasmania.”

The Minister for Resources Paul Harriss said the Liberal Government supports the right mining techniques in the right areas and continues to support exploration for resources like shale gas or petroleum, without the use of fracking.

“Exploration will allow us to better understand whether Tasmania has an economically viable resource and its potential impacts,” he said.

“This allows mining and energy exploration to continue while the state’s economic prospects for energy, and our understanding of the economic viability of the resource, may change over time.”

The Government will continue to consult all stakeholders and monitor national and international developments in policy, scientific understanding of fracking practices, environmental and public health issues and energy and market developments during the five year moratorium.

It also advised that a review into the practice of fracking will be conducted before the moratorium expires in March 2020.