The Barnett Government and oil and gas companies exploring locally have been scrambling to write off my No Fracking in the South West campaign. They claim that fracking will never happen in the area, but their vehement moves to shut down my message has me concerned that there is more at play than they are letting on.
It must be remembered that the unconventional gas business is in the scheme of things a relatively new industry, which is continually evolving as new technologies and techniques are developed. While the Department of Mines and Petroleum and the Liberal and National parties claim the geology of the area is not suitable for hydraulic fracturing, what is to say the application of new fracking chemicals and techniques in years to come will not resolve the supposed difficulties with using fracking in the area?
It must also be remembered that their geology justification is based only on the 2011 Whicher Range gas study, taking in only a tiny fraction of the region. It is possible that there are other potential gas producing fields in unexplored parts of the South West – and what is to say that the geology of other parts of the region will not be suitable for fracking?
To say there is no need for a fracking ban in the South West because the industry does not yet exist is like saying there is no need to protect our agriculture industry from eastern states pests and diseases because they have not yet crossed the border.
Good governments get on top of problems before they become problems. Otherwise you are left with what we have seen in Queensland with fracking in recent years, and I wonder how many farmers, landholders and ordinary citizens from that state wish their governments had of put early anti-fracking protections in place well before the industry was able to gain a foothold.
– Mick Murray MLA, Member for Collie-Preston, Shadow Minister for the SW
