Advertisement

Liberals side with Greens to support fracking inquiry in South Australia

An inquiry into unconventional gas exploration in South Australia could be underway as early as next week following Liberal Party support for a Greens motion in State Parliament's Upper House.

The Greens amended their own motion, originally tabled by state leader MLC Mark Parnell, to ensure the Parliament's Natural Resources Committee (NRC) focused primarily on the south east, an agriculturally rich region heavily earmarked by the State Government for shale gas extraction.

The Liberals last month voted against the Greens inquiry because its focus was state-wide rather than on the south east.

Liberal Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell had since given notice of intention to move a south-east focused motion for debate in the Lower House where it was destined for defeat by the Government and independents.

He said supporting the Greens motion in the Upper House was the best possible outcome.

"I went to an election promising an inquiry," Mr Bell said.

"Now I've been able to deliver, which is a little bit more difficult when you're in opposition because you've got to work with a range of different stakeholders."

He said the NRC was the best option because the members had "real life, hands-on experience".

"Plus they have already started taking some evidence as part of their committee anyway, so they are further progressed than any other committee would be, which would have to start from scratch," Mr Bell said.

Greens disappointed by narrow terms

Mr Parnell said he was disappointed that the terms of reference for the inquiry had to be so narrow.

He said those in the south east needed to understand the impact of fracking on an international scale if they were serious about finding out how the region could be affected.

"So even though the terms of reference are now very narrow, I expect the committee will want to have a look at what fracking has done in other parts of the world so that we can make a bit more of an educated guess about what might happen in the south east," Mr Parnell said.

The south east is host to prime farmland and the renowned Coonawarra wine region.

Early exploration for shale gas extraction potential, a form of mining that relies entirely on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has resulted in heavy protest from the community, with multiple local governments, landowners and community groups calling for an inquiry.