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The mining industry's peak lobby group has launched an attack on the state government following its decision to ban fracking.
In what it described as a national first, the Andrews Labor government announced a permanent ban on the exploration and development of all onshore unconventional gas in Victoria, including hydraulic fracturing – or ‘fracking’ – and coal seam gas in late August.
Last week the Minerals Council of Australia responded by slamming what it said was an “anti-science” decision which would come at the cost of much-needed new jobs and investment in regional Victoria.
MCA Victorian Division executive director Gavin Lind said the state’s “regressive” energy policies and “antiquated approvals processes” were sending a chill through the entire Victorian mining industry.
“Despite Victoria’s minerals prospectivity, the state’s international attractiveness as a destination for minerals investment continues to fall,” Mr Lind said.
“Without reform, Victoria will miss its chance to turn growing global demand for its minerals, such as mineral sands and gold, into high-skill, high-wage jobs and investment.”
But Bendigo Sustainability Group president Chris Weir said fracking would straddle communities with long-term problems.
“We would not support any move to introduce fracking into Victoria when the evidence is quite strong that it has no value to the community,” Mr Weir said.
The environmental problems it causes can take a long time to percolate up and present themselves and so I see no value in using fracking when there are perfectly good opportunities to use more renewable energy,'
- Bendigo Sustainability Group president Chris Weir
The Bendigo environmentalist said he did not consider regulation of mining to be “old-fashioned” but rather good methodology which was in line community concerns.
“I certainly wouldn't want anything less,” Mr Weir said.
However the MCA is calling on the government to “reform” and take a “first critical step forward” which he said would make a “welcome departure from a series of regressive moves”.
“In the interim, the Victorian Government should at least appoint a designated agency to focus on how best to bring forward the benefits of the state’s minerals endowment,” Mr Lind said.
The MCA has a history of vociferous lobbying – it poured $15.78 million into advertising against the former Rudd government's ill-fated resources industry super profits tax.
The industry group is a member of the World Coal Association and in the lead up to the UN Paris summit on climate change last year released a “coal is amazing” commercial.