The Victorian Government has introduced legislation to permanently ban fracking in the state.
In a national first, the Resources Legislation Amendment (Fracking Ban) Bill 2016 will permanently ban all onshore unconventional gas exploration and development, including hydraulic fracturing and coal seam gas, and extend the moratorium on conventional onshore gas exploration and development to June 30 2020.
According to the Victorian Government, farming communities have been calling for a ban on unconventional gas for years and this legislation will end the anxiety they have felt about the environmental and health risks of fracking.
“We promised to ban fracking and we’re getting it done – the livelihoods of thousands of Victorians and the reputation of their world-class produce depend on it,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said.