- Published:
- Wednesday 12 September 2018
The Gippsland community has celebrated the second anniversary of the Andrew Labor Government’s historic decision to permanently ban fracking and all other forms of unconventional onshore gas extraction.
Minister for Resources Tim Pallas and Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today joined Gippsland locals at Prom Country Cheese in Moyarra to celebrate the protection of the agriculture industry and the jobs dependent on it.
The Labor Government’s ban on fracking protects the ‘clean, green’ reputation of Victoria’s agriculture sector, which employs more than 190,000 people and provides much-needed certainty to regional communities.
The decision to ban fracking formed part of the response to the 2015 Parliamentary Inquiry into Onshore Unconventional Gas in Victoria, which received more than 1600 submissions, mostly opposed to onshore unconventional gas.
In reaching our decision, the Labor Government met with residents in Gippsland and across the state, and listened to their views first-hand.
The Labor Government is proud to have banned fracking, and support rural communities state-wide who continue to oppose fracking and the unconventional gas industry.
While Liberals and Nationals across the country continue to show they are soft on fracking, people can be certain that for as long as there is a Labor Government in Victoria, fracking will be banned.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer and Minister for Resources Tim Pallas
“Two years ago we put farmers first and ended fracking forever. Only Labor will keep it that way.”
“We’ve listened to farmers in Gippsland and across the State, who have made it clear that they don’t support fracking. Our ban will protect the clean green reputation of Victoria’s agriculture sector.”
“Unlike the Liberals and Nationals, we value the world-class, fresh produce Gippsland famers produce and the 190,000 jobs the state’s agricultural industry provides.”