Damon Mcknight
As of 2024, Victoria, Tasmania, and parts of South Australia have banned fracking. Western Australia and the Northern Territory have lifted their moratoriums on fracking, while Queensland and New South Wales have imposed restrictions. Victoria was the first state to permanently ban fracking on land, and South Australia has implemented a 10-year ban on fracking in its southeast region. Tasmania and Western Australia have moratoriums in place, and the Northern Territory has lifted its ban, allowing fracking in certain regions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| States that have banned fracking | Victoria, Tasmania, and parts of South Australia and Western Australia |
| States with moratoriums on fracking | New South Wales, Western Australia (Canning Basin), and Tasmania |
| States that allow fracking | Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory |
| Reasons for banning fracking | Environmental concerns, health effects, and potential harm to the farming and tourism sectors |
| Reasons for allowing fracking | Economic opportunities, job creation, and energy security |
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What You'll Learn
Victoria has banned fracking
Victoria's ban on fracking is significant because it is the only state in Australia to have enshrined such a ban in its constitution. The decision to ban fracking was made in response to concerns raised by farmers and regional communities about the potential environmental and agricultural impacts of fracking. Fracking has been associated with risks to water quality, the release of chemicals and other fluids, and the underground migration of gases. Additionally, there are concerns about the impact of fracking on climate change, as the process can release fugitive emissions of greenhouse gases, such as methane, into the atmosphere.
The Victorian government's decision to ban fracking while lifting the ban on onshore gas exploration has been criticized as potentially detrimental to the climate. While the government has stated that expanding gas development would only contribute a small proportion of Victoria's annual greenhouse gas emissions, this assessment does not consider emissions released through increased gas usage within the community. The decision to lift the ban on gas exploration is based on the findings of the Victorian Gas Program (VGP), which concluded that an onshore conventional gas industry would not compromise the environment or the agricultural sector.
The fracking ban in Victoria reflects the mixed views on unconventional exploration and fracking in Australia. While the Australian government supports fracking, community groups have raised concerns about its climate, environmental, and health impacts. The effectiveness of securing fracking bans appears to be related to the political and economic influence of affected communities. Victoria's ban on fracking sets a precedent for prioritizing community concerns and taking action to address climate change.
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Tasmania and Western Australia have moratoriums
Tasmania and Western Australia are not alone in their concerns about fracking. Victoria has also banned the practice, enshrining the ban in the state's constitution to make it harder for future governments to reverse the decision. South Australia has imposed a 10-year ban on fracking in the agriculturally rich Limestone Coast region in the southeast of the state, while New South Wales has placed restrictions on its use.
The Australian government's support for fracking has attracted criticism and opposition from various quarters, including community groups concerned about its environmental, health, and climate impacts. Almond crops, for instance, require substantial water resources and deplete biodiversity, and the pesticides used are harmful to bees.
On the other hand, some argue that negative impacts can be mitigated with appropriate technology, and that fracking does not impair water quality due to the nature and dilution of chemicals used. The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association emphasizes that injected fluids are typically more than 99% water and sand, with only a small amount of chemicals that are isolated in sealed storage areas to prevent leakage.
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New South Wales has restrictions
Australia has mixed views on fracking, with each state and territory governing its own regulations. The Australian government supports fracking, while community groups point to its negative climate, environmental, and health effects.
New South Wales has applied certain restrictions on fracking. The state government has an energy infrastructure roadmap that focuses on renewable energy projects. However, the federal government plans to build a large gas-fired power plant in the Hunter region of New South Wales, which will use taxpayer money.
In 2018, the Northern Territory lifted its ban on fracking, unlocking vast onshore gas reserves. Almost half of the territory remains "frack-free," including national parks and reserves. The NT government stated that it would tightly regulate the industry. This move attracted widespread criticism and intense opposition from environmentalists.
In 2024, the Western Australian Government lifted its moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, allowing unconventional gas development in parts of the state. Traditional owners and landowners now have the right to say "no" to any oil and gas production from fracking on their land.
In 2017, Victoria became the first state to permanently ban fracking on land, and in 2020, the ban was enshrined in the state's Constitution. The South Australian Government has announced a 10-year fracking ban across the agricultural-rich Limestone Coast region in the southeast of the state. However, fracking is still permitted in other areas of South Australia, subject to requisite approval processes.
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Queensland allows fracking
Queensland has never banned fracking and remains one of the states where it is allowed. It is the source of most of Australia's unconventional gas and hosts three major projects involving the conversion of CSG into liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export. These include the Santos-operated Gladstone LNG project, Origin Energy's Australia Pacific LNG, and Shell's Queensland Curtis LNG projects.
The state is also home to the Bowen and Surat basins, which are the main producers of CSG in Queensland and Australia. The Surat Basin, in particular, has been the subject of a CSIRO study that found fracking to have "little to no impact on groundwater, waterways, soils, or air quality." However, it is important to note that the conclusions of this study may not apply to the rest of Australia, and the impacts may take a longer timeframe to become apparent.
Queensland's decision to allow fracking is in line with the Australian government's support for the practice. In 2017, the federal Minister for the Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, called for an end to all fracking bans, stating that "more gas is good for jobs and it's good for energy security and supply." Prime Minister Scott Morrison is also known to be "pro-fracking" and has been accused of bullying states into accepting fracking by threatening to cut their GST distribution if they opposed it.
While Queensland allows fracking, it is important to acknowledge that the practice is controversial and has divided Australia. Some states, such as Victoria, Tasmania, and Western Australia, have implemented bans or moratoriums on fracking due to environmental, social, and health concerns. Community groups have pointed to the climate, environmental, and health effects of fracking, and there are concerns about the volumes of water required, contamination of drinking water, and air pollution. However, Queensland's decision to allow fracking highlights the mixed views and varied regulations regarding unconventional exploration and fracking across Australia.
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Northern Territory lifted its ban
In April 2018, the Northern Territory (NT) government of Australia lifted its ban on fracking, allowing gas extraction through hydraulic fracturing. This decision has attracted widespread criticism and intense opposition from environmentalists, with concerns about its potential impact on the environment and community opposition. The NT government has stated that it will tightly regulate the industry, and almost half of the territory will remain "frack-free", including national parks and reserves.
The lifting of the fracking ban in the NT has been encouraged by the federal government and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is "pro-fracking". The government has highlighted the economic benefits of fracking, including job creation and energy security. However, community groups and environmentalists have expressed concerns about the climate, environmental, and health impacts of fracking. They argue that the decision goes against the science and the significant community opposition that has been expressed.
The decision to lift the fracking ban in the NT has also raised concerns about the potential impact on water resources. Fracking requires large volumes of water, and there are risks of contamination of drinking water and aquifers by the chemicals used in the process. However, supporters of fracking, including the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, argue that the negative impacts can be mitigated with appropriate technology and that fracking does not impair water quality.
The lifting of the fracking ban in the NT has also been influenced by the desire to attract investment and develop the region's vast onshore gas reserves. Andrew Koscharsky, director for energy at RCMA, has stated that significant infrastructure investment will be needed to bring the gas to domestic and international markets. The decision has also raised hopes among the industry for an end to fracking bans elsewhere in Australia.
Overall, the lifting of the fracking ban in the NT has highlighted the divided opinions in Australia regarding fracking. While the federal government and some states support fracking for its economic and energy benefits, other states and community groups oppose it due to environmental, health, and climate concerns. The varying regulations and perspectives across jurisdictions in Australia indicate a lack of a unified federal stance on fracking.
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Frequently asked questions
Victoria, Tasmania, and parts of South Australia have banned fracking.
Western Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland have moratoriums on fracking.
The Northern Territory allows fracking.
