Damon Mcknight
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a controversial method of extracting gas and oil from underground. It involves drilling into the earth and injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals to fracture rock formations and release gas or oil. While fracking has been used in Australia for over 60 years, the practice has sparked intense debates and divided opinions across the country. Each state and territory in Australia has its own regulations regarding fracking, resulting in a varied landscape of bans, moratoriums, and restrictions. So, is fracking illegal in Australia? The answer is complex and ever-evolving, as public sentiment, environmental concerns, and government decisions shape the future of this divisive industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is fracking banned in Australia? | No, but there are different regulations in each jurisdiction. |
| Which states have banned fracking? | Victoria, Tasmania, and Western Australia (except for 2% of the state). |
| Which states have moratoriums on fracking? | New South Wales, South Australia (in the Limestone Coast Region), and the Northern Territory. |
| Which states allow fracking? | Queensland. |
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What You'll Learn
Victoria has banned fracking
Australia has mixed views on fracking, with each state and territory governing its own regulations. In 2017, Victoria became the first state in Australia to ban fracking, specifically all onshore unconventional gas exploration and development, including fracking and coal seam gas. The ban was passed in the Constitution Amendment (Fracking Ban) Bill 2020, with the Labor Government aiming to safeguard the state's agriculture and tourism sectors from the environmental and health risks associated with fracking.
The ban was informed by detailed scientific investigations by the Victorian Gas Program (VGP), which found that an onshore conventional gas industry would not compromise the environment or the state's vital agricultural sector. The VGP's independent stakeholder advisory panel included farmers, environmental groups, industry representatives, and local councils. The ban has provided much-needed certainty to regional communities and protected Victoria's 'clean, green' reputation in the agriculture sector, which employs over 190,000 people.
The Victorian government has stated its intention to make the ban permanent and difficult for future governments to overturn. However, critics argue that this is unlikely to be legally effective as the Victorian constitution is an ordinary act that can be amended by another legal act. Nevertheless, Victoria's commitment to a fracking ban is significant, with no other government in the world having enshrined such a ban in their constitution.
While Victoria has banned fracking, it has lifted its moratorium on conventional onshore gas exploration, which does not involve fracking. This decision has been met with criticism, as extracting conventional gas carries environmental risks, including fugitive emissions of greenhouse gases such as methane.
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Tasmania and Western Australia have moratoriums
Australia has mixed views on fracking, with each state and territory governing its own regulations. While some states have imposed outright bans, others have moratoriums in place, and still, others allow the practice. Tasmania and Western Australia are among the states that have placed moratoriums on fracking.
Tasmania, an island state located off Australia's southeastern coast, has implemented a moratorium on fracking. This means that there is currently a temporary ban or delay on the practice of hydraulic fracturing within the state. The moratorium in Tasmania reflects the state's cautious approach to the controversial issue of fracking.
Western Australia, a large state covering the entire western third of the country, initially had a moratorium on fracking. However, in February 2024, the Western Australian Government lifted this moratorium, attracting widespread criticism and intense opposition. Despite this, the practice of fracking will only be permitted in a limited area, with WA's premier Mark McGowan announcing that fracking will only be allowed in 2% of the state. This decision marks a shift in perspective and priorities for the Western Australian Government, which previously had a blanket ban on fracking.
The moratoriums in Tasmania and Western Australia highlight the differing approaches and perspectives on fracking across Australia. While some states are open to the practice, others remain concerned about the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts. Fracking is a controversial method of extracting gas and oil from deep underground, and it has been the subject of widespread criticism due to environmental concerns relating to water usage and potential groundwater contamination.
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New South Wales has restrictions
Australia has mixed views on fracking, with each state and territory governing its own regulations. Victoria has banned fracking, and there are moratoriums in Tasmania and Western Australia. Queensland broadly allows the practice.
Environmental groups have expressed concerns about the quantity of water used in fracking, as well as its effects on groundwater and other pollution issues. Fracking involves injecting very large amounts of water with a small amount of chemicals deep underground. Shale fracking, in particular, has been criticised as an industry that uses a lot of water and creates a considerable amount of wastewater. Research by the US Environmental Protection Agency has found that fracking can impact drinking water and has resulted in some private drinking wells becoming unusable.
However, supporters of fracking argue that the injected fluid is typically more than 99% water and sand, with only a very small amount of chemicals. They claim that all recovered fluids are isolated in sealed storage areas to prevent leakage and that, given the nature and dilution of chemicals used in Australian operations, fracking does not impair water quality.
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Queensland allows fracking
Australia has mixed views on fracking, with each state and territory governing its own regulations. While some states have banned fracking, such as Victoria, others like Queensland allow it.
Queensland has never banned fracking and is the source of most of Australia's unconventional gas. The state is home to the Bowen and Surat basins, which are the main producers of coal seam gas (CSG) in the country. Commercial production of coal seam gas began in Queensland in 1996. Several major projects in the state convert coal seam gas into liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export.
However, it is important to note that there are concerns about the environmental impact of fracking in Queensland. The Cooper Basin, an area in Queensland, is under investigation for further fracking possibilities. However, this area contains eight areas of wetland of national importance and is home to 26 threatened species. There are also concerns about the large volumes of water required by the fracking process, as well as the potential contamination of drinking water and aquifers by chemicals used in fracking.
Despite these concerns, a recent CSIRO study in the Surat Basin in Queensland found that fracking caused "little to no impact on groundwater, waterways, soils or air quality". This has provided some reassurance to the state and the energy industry, which has been criticised for its use of 116 different chemicals in unconventional gas extraction.
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Northern Territory lifted its ban in 2018
In Australia, fracking or hydraulic fracturing is a controversial method of extracting gas from hard-to-reach spaces like coal seams, shale, or tight sandstones. The process involves drilling into the ground and injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into the rock to fracture it and release gas (or oil) to the surface. While some argue that fracking is necessary for reliable energy supply and job creation, others raise concerns about its environmental impact, particularly water contamination and pollution.
The regulation of fracking in Australia is inconsistent across different states and territories, with some imposing bans or moratoriums while others permit the practice. In the Northern Territory, the ban on fracking was lifted in 2018, marking a significant shift in the landscape of gas exploration in the region. This decision was made following a 15-month scientific inquiry into the environmental, social, and economic risks and impacts of fracking, led by the Honourable Justice Rachel Pepper.
The inquiry concluded that the benefits of fracking outweighed the potential risks, and the Northern Territory government announced that more than half of the territory's land mass would be available for fracking operations. This decision faced fierce opposition from environmental groups, Indigenous communities, and local residents concerned about the potential impact on water resources, farmland, and regional economies.
The Northern Territory's decision to lift the fracking ban aligns with the federal government's push for increased fracking across Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has expressed strong support for fracking, and there have been accusations of pressuring states to align with this stance. However, several states remain firmly opposed to fracking, with Victoria being the first state to implement a permanent ban on onshore unconventional gas exploration, including fracking, in 2017.
The lifting of the fracking ban in the Northern Territory highlights the ongoing debate and conflicting interests surrounding fracking in Australia. While the gas industry advocates for expanded fracking operations, environmental groups and local communities continue to raise concerns and call for stricter regulations to protect natural resources and vulnerable ecosystems. The impact of the Northern Territory's decision is yet to be fully realized, and it remains to be seen whether other states will follow suit in lifting their restrictions on fracking.
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Frequently asked questions
No, fracking is not illegal in Australia, but there are differing regulations in each jurisdiction.
Fracking has been banned in Victoria since 2017. There are also moratoriums on fracking in Tasmania, Western Australia, and the Limestone Coast Region of South Australia.
Queensland broadly allows fracking, and the Northern Territory lifted its ban on fracking in 2018. New South Wales has some restrictions on fracking, and South Australia permits it in some regions.
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a method of extracting fossil fuels, primarily natural gas, and oil from deep underground. It involves drilling into the earth and injecting a combination of water, sand, and chemicals, which breaks up the rock and allows gas or oil to flow to the surface.
Fracking is controversial in Australia due to environmental concerns. Environmental groups argue that drinking water and aquifers can become contaminated during the fracking process, impacting water quality and resources, farmland, and regional economies.
