Australia: Victoria moves to ban hydraulic fracturing

The government of the Australian state of Victoria introduced a legislation on Tuesday to permanently ban hydraulic fracturing and coal seam gas. 

It is a national first for Australia that is set to become the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, overtaking Qatar.

The Resource Legislation Amendment (Fracking Ban) Bill of 2016 will permanently ban all onshore unconventional gas exploration and development and extend the moratorium on conventional onshore gas exploration and development to 30 June 2020.

According to a statement issued by the office of premier Daniel Andrews, the ban is a response to the 2015 Parliamentary inquiry into onshore unconventional gas in Victoria.

Farming communities across the state have been calling for such legislation, and according to the statement, the ban will protect Victoria’s farming sector.

It is still unclear whether the Nationals will support the Labor Government’s legislative ban, the statement reads.