Legislation banning all onshore unconventional gas exploration and development, including hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and coal seam gas has passed state parliament.
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The bill came in response to what the government described as “serious concerns” from primary producers, saying the bill brought an end to “uncertainty” and was a win for farmers and regional Victorians.
The bill also extends the moratorium on conventional onshore gas exploration and development to June 30, 2020, allowing the government to carry out further research on the potential risks and benefits of onshore conventional gas and development.
The research is to be overseen by Victoria’s lead scientist in consultation with an expert panel made up of farmers, industry, local government and community members.
Resources Minister Wade Noonan called the bill’s passage through parliament a “historic day for our state”.
“This is a win for people power and regional communities across Victoria who have campaigned for years to see this ban in place,” he said.
“We will now use the moratorium on conventional gas exploration to better understand its potential risks and benefits and we’ll listen to the experts.”
Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford, also backed the bill, saying fracking had been resoundingly rejected in the state’s regional communities.
“We’re putting our farmers first and protecting their world-class produce and our environment,” she said.
