❓ Opposition questions the Premier's commitment to restricting fracking based on climate change concerns, referencing a prior election promise. The government defends its actions, citing a scientific inquiry and adoption of its recommendations.
AnsweredQoN 1227Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING —
WA LABOR ELECTION COMMITMENT
1227. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
I refer to the Australian Labor
Party's 2016 election commitment that fracking would not be allowed in
WA if it ''contributed adversely to climate change''.
(1) Will the Premier uphold this
election commitment and not allow fracking in WA?
(2) Will the
Premier explain how the fracking inquiry included the full analysis of
life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions prior to any fracking activity, including
future exploration?
(3) Will the
Premier explain how the fracking inquiry demonstrated that fracking will not
compromise the environment, groundwater or public health, or contribute
adversely to climate change?
(4) If no to (1),
(2) and/or (3), does the Premier agree that he misled the people of WA in his
election commitment?
The PRESIDENT :
Leader of the House, I am not sure you need to answer that last part of the
question.
Hon Nick
Goiran interjected.
The PRESIDENT :
Member! I was speaking; you were not.
WA LABOR ELECTION COMMITMENT
1227. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
I refer to the Australian Labor
Party's 2016 election commitment that fracking would not be allowed in
WA if it ''contributed adversely to climate change''.
(1) Will the Premier uphold this
election commitment and not allow fracking in WA?
(2) Will the
Premier explain how the fracking inquiry included the full analysis of
life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions prior to any fracking activity, including
future exploration?
(3) Will the
Premier explain how the fracking inquiry demonstrated that fracking will not
compromise the environment, groundwater or public health, or contribute
adversely to climate change?
(4) If no to (1),
(2) and/or (3), does the Premier agree that he misled the people of WA in his
election commitment?
The PRESIDENT :
Leader of the House, I am not sure you need to answer that last part of the
question.
Hon Nick
Goiran interjected.
The PRESIDENT :
Member! I was speaking; you were not.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(4) The
government committed at the election to impose a ban on fracking in the south
west, Perth metropolitan and Peel regions, and to a moratorium across the
remainder of the state until such time as a scientific inquiry could be held on
the safety and environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing. The Premier
assumes that the quote used in the preamble of the honourable member's
question comes from his letter to the Conservation Council of WA. If that is
indeed the case, the honourable member has taken the quote out of context. The
full quote reads —
WA Labor will place a moratorium on
the use of fracking until such an inquiry can demonstrate that fracking will
not compromise the environment, groundwater, public health or contribute
adversely to climate change.
That inquiry has now been done. The
inquiry has found that the risks from hydraulic fracturing in Western Australia
are low and can be lower still if the inquiry's recommendations are
adopted. Accordingly, we have adopted all 44 recommendations. Even on a full
life-cycle basis, the emissions from unconventional gas are only marginally
higher than those of conventional gas, and are still far lower than current
energy sources of coal or diesel used in communities throughout WA. The
conducting of this inquiry and the government's response on this issue
are entirely consistent in detail and spirit with our election commitment.
some notice of the question.
(1)–(4) The
government committed at the election to impose a ban on fracking in the south
west, Perth metropolitan and Peel regions, and to a moratorium across the
remainder of the state until such time as a scientific inquiry could be held on
the safety and environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing. The Premier
assumes that the quote used in the preamble of the honourable member's
question comes from his letter to the Conservation Council of WA. If that is
indeed the case, the honourable member has taken the quote out of context. The
full quote reads —
WA Labor will place a moratorium on
the use of fracking until such an inquiry can demonstrate that fracking will
not compromise the environment, groundwater, public health or contribute
adversely to climate change.
That inquiry has now been done. The
inquiry has found that the risks from hydraulic fracturing in Western Australia
are low and can be lower still if the inquiry's recommendations are
adopted. Accordingly, we have adopted all 44 recommendations. Even on a full
life-cycle basis, the emissions from unconventional gas are only marginally
higher than those of conventional gas, and are still far lower than current
energy sources of coal or diesel used in communities throughout WA. The
conducting of this inquiry and the government's response on this issue
are entirely consistent in detail and spirit with our election commitment.
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