By TABATHA BADGER |
THE science has been clear for more than a decade: fossil fuel fracking isn’t compatible with the climate crisis or agricultural security – and fracking isn’t just a mainland problem, it’s a Tasmanian issue too. Fracking is a method used to extract oil and gas from deep underground rock formations. It involves injecting high pressure substances into the earth to crack open the formations creating fissures. It is an invasive process by design.
Once those fissures are created, they cannot simply be undone. The risk to groundwater is real and if contamination and leakage occurs there is no practical way to reverse it. Around 2012, there was a series of surveys and proposals for fracking on prime agricultural land here. In 2015, a moratorium on fracking was put in place by then primary industries minister, Jeremy Rockliff, to provide some security the land holders. Further reports were supposed to follow in 2020, but they have never happened, and the moratorium has continually been extended in five-year blocks.
Presently, it is in place until 2030. That’s not long-term security for our farmers, especially in the climate crisis and with the growing need for food and fresh produce on island self-reliance. Without a legislated ban, a government could lift the moratorium with the stroke of a pen. That’s exactly what has happened in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The Victorian Government has seen the writing on the wall and legislated a ban on fracking.
What possible reason could the Liberals or Labor have for leaving the Tasmanian farm gate open for future destructive fracking and for fossil fuels?
The Greens have joined landowners and farmers working toward banning fracking for a decade. In 2017, we tabled a bill to do just that. It excluded some technologies and geothermal energy fracking, in case there is a sensible opportunity here in the future. This move was supported by Labor, but ultimately the Liberal majority parliament voted it down.
Today, we have a minority government and an opportunity to ban fracking in Tasmania. Back in March, I had the opportunity to table the Greens’ ban on fracking bill – in essence the same as was tabled in 2017. The bill has been refined with a key amendment to exclude possible unintended capture of future “fracking” technology which may be good, but falls under the present definition of the destructive practise.
This clarification removes any unintended consequences and sharpens the intent of the legislation. Land owners and farmers across the state have supported and helped formulate this legislation, and they trust Labor will stand by their long held views that Tasmania needs a legislated ban of fracking, that a moratorium is insufficient for long-term security. Together we can see fossil fuel fracking banned in Tasmania.
Tabatha Badger is one of the seven state members for Lyons. New Norfolk and Derwent Valley News invites each Lyons MP to write for the paper on a regular basis.
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One Response
I agree totally with the concerns Tabatha Badger has raised regarding Fossil Fuel Fracking. It has an irreversible negative impact on precious groundwater resources which are essential for agriculture. I was a trained geologist. This precious groundwater developed over millions of years but will be devastated by the effects of Fossil Fuel Fracking. There should be an immediate ban on Fossil Fuel Fracking.
Mark Bennett