Economy
Call for fracking moratorium
The Tasmanian Greens today renewed calls the Minister for Resources to reject an application to explore for shale oil and gas in the Southern Midlands, and to announce a moratorium on any further leases.
Greens Member for Lyons Tim Morris MP was speaking ahead of another meeting in Oatlands tonight to discuss a controversial proposal by Petragas to explore for unconventional gas in the Southern Midlands.
“PetraGas has said that they are highly likely to need to use the controversial practice of fracking if they can find sufficient resource,” Mr Morris said.
“If the Minister does grant this exploration licence, it will mean that nearly half of Tasmania will be under exploration for gas and oil.”
“There has been virtually no discussion of what this will mean for the release of harmful emissions, water contamination and landowners rights.”
“Tasmania has an obligation to do its part to help reduce global carbon pollution, and releasing ever more areas for hydrocarbon exploration is not the direction we should be heading in.”
“The fossil fuel industry’s days are numbered, and we need to be getting ahead of the curve by putting the focus on driving investment in renewable energy.”
“Tasmania needs a pathway to becoming 100% renewable, not to be going the other way, as Mr Green will take the state backwards if he approves this application,” said Mr Morris.