TASMANIA has taken decisive action on its burgeoning gas industry, banning fracking for five years, while controversy boils in other states.
Primary Industries and Water Minister Jeremy Rockliff announced the ban, backing the agriculture sector’s growth potential to deliver for the State.
“The Liberal government supports a strong and thriving agriculture industry in Tasmania, which is why we have applied a precautionary principle when considering any measures that could impact on the sector's ability to grow tenfold to $10 billion a year by 2050," Mr Rockliff said.
The announcement followed a government inquiry into the controversial fracking technique, which pumps liquid, sand and chemicals into underground rock formations to crack open the geology and let trapped gas flow to the surface.
The practice of fracking is widely employed by the Queensland coal seam gas industry and is currently causing controversy in other states where the gas proponents are trying to gain government approval to forge ahead.
Sections of the agricultural community in NSW, South Australia and Queensland are fighting plans from gas companies to gain approval for fracking operations on or near farmland.
CSG has faced persistent opposition from some farmers in NSW, who cite risks to water resources as a key concern.
The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) welcomed the State’s five year ban.
“This is a sound, prudent decision. Why would you do anything to imperil one of our key economic pillars at a time when it has everything going for it?,” said TFGA director Greg Bradfield.
“There has to be more research into fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, to determine its long-term implications, especially for the farmland that would be affected.”