WA Greens welcome inquiry into unconventional and coal seam gas mining

WA Greens Spokesperson for Water Alison Xamon today welcomed the call for the Federal Parliament to conduct an inquiry into the impact of unconventional and coal seam gas mining.

The motion was tabled by Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters.  The inquiry would consider the economic, social and environmental impacts of industry and examine the adequacy of existing regulations.

Ms Xamon said that without close scrutiny and appropriate regulation that the industry posed a real risk of groundwater contamination.

Last year Ms Xamon called for a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in Western Australia, until transparent and effective regulation is put in place.  The motion is due to be debated in May.

“A moratorium should be in place until the Government can guarantee that fracking poses no risk to our precious clean water reserves.

“Fracking has been banned in France, Belgium and in the American towns of Pittsburgh and New Jersey. Let us learn from the caution which is being displayed elsewhere around the world,” Ms Xamon said.

Ms Xamon said fracking hot spots in WA included the farming areas of the North Perth Basin near Badgingarra, World Heritage areas in the Kimberley as well as the South Perth Basin, including the agricultural and tourism areas around Margaret River and the Capes.

“Even when everything goes right, fracking can be an environmental disaster. The best case scenario still includes the creation millions of litres of chemically contaminated, briny and potentially radioactive waste-water.

“Leaks from holding ponds and earthquakes associated with deep injection wells are causing industry headaches around the world.

“Western Australia needs to have a transparent and rigorous regime for managing this process.  Hopefully if this Federal Inquiry gets up then it can investigate to ensure this is happening.”