[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Greens say fracking must be banned - not just delayed

[Susan.Quinn at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Greens say fracking must be banned - not just delayed

Victorian Greens Leader Greg Barber says today's extension of the state's 
fracking moratorium in no way stops the threat in Victoria, and he'll 
continue to push for a permanent ban on onshore gas development.

"Let's call today's announcement for what it is - a pre-election delay 
tactic."

"Make no mistake - we have a pro-mining government just waiting for the 
right time to unleash mining companies to frack rural Victoria. There's 
already legislation before the Parliament that will make it harder for 
communities to say no to fracking in their backyards and easier for mining 
companies to get exploration licences."

"The government extended the fracking moratorium and announced its public 
consultation plans at the same time that they released the 
much-anticipated report on the gas market by Peter Reith and his mining 
and energy industry buddies."

"Reith's first recommendation to the government is that they should 
'proactively support the development of the onshore industry in Victoria 
to create a safe an efficient onshore gas industry'."

"This government knows that mounting numbers of farmers, rural residents 
and community groups are totally opposed to fracking and the risks it 
poses to their regions and livelihoods. They need to start representing 
those people who've elected them, not Peter Reith's panel of 7 industry 
executives."

Link: Gas market Taskforce report, October 2013

For comment: Greg Barber 0433 044 771

Susan Quinn
Electorate Officer to Greg Barber MLC
Leader of the Victorian Parliamentary Greens
State Member of Parliament for Northern Metropolitan Region
Suite G-01  60 Leicester Street  Carlton  VIC  3053
P:         03 9348 2622
F:         03 9348 2699
E:         susan.quinn at parliament.vic.gov.au
W:        http://vicmps.greens.org.au/ 
The Office of Greg Barber MLC respectfully acknowledges that we sit on the 
traditional land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation.
Please consider the environment when deciding whether to print this 
email.  Thanks.

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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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