Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens' Leader
In a highly regrettable refusal to acknowledge the evidence and strong community opposition, the Liberals voted against the Greens' move to extend the moratorium on fracking to a permanent ban.
Hydraulic fracturing or fracking involves horizontal drilling into rock and the injection of chemical-laden fluids to force out oil or gas trapped in underground shale. This technology has no place in Tasmania.
The current moratorium expires in March 2020. We believe the majority of Tasmanians would support a permanent ban on this dangerous, natural resource wasting industry.
We brought the Mineral Resources Development (Hydraulic Fracturing) Amendment Bill 2017 on for debate following threats made by Federal Treasurer, Scott Morrison, to cut GST payments to State and Territories that have implemented moratoria or bans on fracking.
This bully boy tactic should be condemned by all parties in Tasmania. We have a collective responsibility to stand up for public health, the environment, landholder rights, the climate and our clean, green brand.
A growing body of evidence points to the devastating environmental impacts of fracking. It uses vast quantities of water, 90% of which never returns to the surface.
Fracking also contaminates ground water supplies with a lethal cocktail of chemicals including benzene, uranium, radium, methanol, mercury and formaldehyde.
Health impacts associated with fracking include, increased cancer risk, respiratory illnesses, nervous system damage, low birth weight, skin irritations, nose bleeds, rashes and extreme fatigue.
The US Geological Survey also confirms that fracking causes earthquakes, with formerly stable regions in the US experiencing movements in faults that have not moved in millions of years.
This is exactly the sort of technology we don't want or need in Tasmania. It's a shame the Liberals refuse to acknowledge that through a permanent ban on fracking in Tasmania.