South Australia plans to lift 10-year fracking ban in state's South East
The South Australian government has announced it will draft legislation to lift the 10-year ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the state's South East. Farmers and environmental groups criticised the plan, while the government argued the move would support natural gas supply and ease energy costs.
The South Australian government is preparing to introduce a bill to lift the 2016 ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the state's South East. The announcement said additional natural gas supply would come on stream in the coming years if the legislation passes.
The state's energy minister said tightness on the east-coast natural gas market cannot be eased without investment incentives. Officials added that strict environmental standards would be defined for producers and that seismic monitoring would be mandatory in invested areas.
Farmer associations and environmental groups argued that risks to farmland and groundwater have not been adequately assessed. The opposition said the issue would be debated for long hours in parliament and that it would push for a local referendum.
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