The South Australian government is planning to lift a ban on fracking in the state’s South East amid reports of increasing risks to gas supply in southern parts of the nation.
The Malinauskas government said fracking was currently permitted across SA, except in the South East, where a 10-year moratorium was imposed in 2018 by the then-Liberal government.
Hydraulic fracture stimulation, or fracking, is used to extract underground oil and natural gas but has been prohibited in the South East after community concerns around the technology being used over limestone.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas told 5AA the state needs more gas for manufacturing, while the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) projects a gas supply shortfall for south-east Australia from 2030.
Mr Malinauskas said the bill to be introduced in parliament next week would not “authorise fracking”.
“It removes the ban on it, it provides the ability for mining companies to be able to do the requisite exploration, the scientific studies, to work out whether or not there is an economic resource there, and then go through the process to get the approvals to be able to extract it in conjunction with engagement of local landowners,” he said.
“It will be a test in the parliament, because I honestly don’t know whether or not this will get through the upper house, but I think it’s important to test it.”
The premier said he expected the change to “ruffle a few feathers” but he was prepared to meet and speak with the South East community in his trip to Mount Gambier today.
“So I don’t know why, if we’ve been doing this safely since the 60s in one part of our state, it just doesn’t make sense to ban it in another,” he said.
Anti-fracking protesters in Mount Gambier in 2015 before the moratorium was put in place. (ABC News: Elise Fantin)
In December, the SA government offered land for onshore gas exploration, with Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis saying at the time there would be no fracking in the South East.
Community shocked at news
Former Naracoorte Lucindale Council Mayor Ken Grundy told ABC South East SA the state government is disregarding the South East’s prime agricultural land and production.
“It’s so disappointing, here we go after all the work and the government had legislation to ban fracking till 2028, and he wants to get in early, it’s absolutely unbelievable,” he said.
Limestone Coast Protection Alliance chair Angus Ralton, who was part of the initial opposition to fracking, was shocked at the announcement and asked local MPs and councillors to oppose the change.
“This is why we were asking for a blanket ban before because they have been creeping and creeping to this point since the moratorium had been introduced, they never let up,” he said.
“Our aquifers are under immense pressure … Labor wants to bring the gas companies in which will only use more water so where’s that going to come from?”
Opposition spokesperson for energy and mining Ben Hood urged the government to consult the community first before considering this repeal.
“The community was very clear 10 years ago, the community now has not got an option,” he said.