Independent MP Troy Bell moves to legislate ban on fracking in South Australia’s South-East
THE Government will send a message that it can’t be trusted unless it legislates a 10-year ban on fracking in the state’s South-East, independent Troy Bell has declared.
- Steven Marshall promises a 10-year fracking ban from opposition
- Gas exploration is a hot button election issue in the South-East
THE Government will send a message that it can’t be trusted unless it legislates a 10-year ban on fracking in the state’s South-East, independent Troy Bell has declared.
The Liberal Party is yet to declare its position on legislating a ban, despite an election commitment that it would deliver a 10-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in the region.
Mr Bell who has moved his own motion to legislate the ban, said the party he “used to belong to would stick to their word and deliver their promises”.
“I would have to question every word they say to me. If they don’t honour this commitment, how can I know they’ll honour future commitments?” he said.
The Government has issued a ministerial directive that fracking projects are not to be approved in the South-East, but Mr Bell argues the only way it can deliver on its election promise is if the ban is enshrined in legislation.
There are no active plans to start fracking activities, but concerned locals say the Government directive is not enough to stop any activity in its tracks.
“A direction to a department is not a 10-year ban on fracking,” Mr Bell said.
“All they can guarantee is a four-year ban, because that’s how long they’re guaranteed to be in government for.”
Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan said the Government had “already delivered the 10-year-ban on fracking for the people of the South-East”.
“When (Mr Bell) presents his Bill, I will consider respectfully whatever he has to propose,” he said.
The Government is also being pushed to legislate the ban by Liberal MacKillop MP Nick McBride.
Local pressure is mounting on Mr McBride to cross the floor if the Government sticks to its guns, but the first-term MP says he’s intent on effecting change inside the party for now.
Mr McBride said convincing his party of the need for legislation was “ a battle”, but said committing to cross the floor would only serve to reduce his bargaining power.
“There’s been no talk of crossing the floor at this point,” he said. “I will work within our party room to make them understand that the Limestone Coast community would like to see this moratorium put into legislation.”
Mr McBride said the Government was “adamant” it had done the right thing by issuing the ministerial directive, but he was hopeful he could talk them into legislating the ban. Limestone Coast Protection Alliance spokeswoman Merilyn Paxton said the fracking ban was “just a promise” unless it was enshrined in legislation.
“And political promises don’t really carry much weight,” she said.
“There still remains a number of Liberal MPs who are opposed to a fracking moratorium, so the numbers are quite unstable without legislation.”
She said a legislated ban was needed to give certainty to concerned landholders.
“There’s no guarantee the ban is for any more than four years, and there remains a possibility that companies can fight the ministerial directive in the courts,” she said.
MS Paxton said she expected Mr McBride to cross the floor in support of Mr Bell’s motion if he failed to win over the Liberal party room.
“He’s a big land holder down here and he understands the importance of it (a moratorium). We do expect him to vote for it,” she said.
Labor mining and energy spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said the Government had not delivered a ban until it was legislated.
“All they’re doing is not processing applications. The act is clear all activities are banned unless they’re approved by the regulator,” Mr Koutsantonis said. “(Premier) Steven Marshall needs to explain to the people in the South-East how there’s a 10-year ban if it isn’t legislated.”
Mr Koutsantonis said Labor’s stance on fracking would be “guided by science, not politics” if it won the 2022 state election. He has previously rubbished the Liberals’ promised moratorium on fracking in the South-East and confirmed Labor would not support the moratorium.
“Our policy is that if the independent regulator tells us they can frack safely there, they can, if they say it’s not safe, they won’t,” he said.