A WESTERN Victorian MP has backed a report by the Victorian Auditor General that found the state wasn’t ready to handle the risks and impacts of onshore mining of unconventional gases.
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Member for Western Victoria Simon Ramsay told State Parliament last week he agreed with the auditor general’s report that found the present regulatory framework in Victoria would not be able to effectively manage the risks of onshore mining of unconventional gases.
Several south-west communities have declared their opposition to the onshore mining of unconventional gases.
The action is banned – at least until next year – while the state government conducts an inquiry into the impacts of the energy source.
The auditor general’s report, which was released last month, found the state’s regulatory framework had too few environmental controls and weak consideration of the competing interests for the land involved.
The report said there was a lack of early community engagement and too much ministerial discretion for the management of the mining.
Mr Ramsay said the risks of unconventional gas exploration contaminating water resources and harming food production had yet to be defined.
A state parliamentary inquiry into onshore mining of unconventional gas handed down an interim report last week that said Victoria was in a fortunate position of being able to learn from other states that had unconventional gas industries.
It said it would seek further information from Queensland, NSW and elsewhere about the effect of onshore mining of unconventional gases on agriculture and rural communities, its health impacts and regulatory regimes elsewhere before it handed down its full report in December.
The inquiry, which to date has received more than 1700 written submissions and heard from 57 groups and individuals, will hold a public hearing in Hamilton on September 23.
Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy had called for the public hearing in Hamilton after hearing from many residents concerned about what the impact onshore mining for unconventional gas would have on prime agricultural land and did not want to see the industry in the region.
Ms Kealy said the Nationals would never support any mining activity that risked harm to agricultural land.
