Australian State of Victoria to Continue Fracking Ban

Australian state of Victoria will continue the temporary ban on hydraulic fracturing as it said it will take more time to reach final decision on unconventional gas exploration.

In November 2013, the Victorian government announced moratorium on new exploration licences for onshore natural gas and on hydraulic fracturing would be extended until community consultation and independent water studies were carried out.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Minister for Resources Wood Noonan said the government has been considering the findings and recommendations from the Parliamentary inquiry into unconventional gas in Victoria, which received more than 1800 submissions.

“I appreciate that there are significant concerns within the Victorian community about unconventional gas exploration and the extraction methods used. As the new Minister for Resources, I take these issues seriously and therefore will take more time to meet with industry, farmers and other community representatives,” Noonan said.

In addition to continuation of fracking ban, a hold on granting of new exploration licences for all types of onshore gas (tight, shale, coal seam and conventional gas) will also remain in place.

The government will respond to the inquiry’s recommendations when Parliament resumes in August.