Fracking in WA

Wednesday, 2 November

WA Greens MLC Robin Chapple said new National Party policy giving fracking veto rights to farmers, announced at the state conference in Geraldton last weekend, did nothing to protect the rights of Traditional Owners who are opposed to the practice.

“Whilst I applaud the National Party for finally backing the rights of their constituents on the issue of fracking, this policy change is really quite discriminatory towards Aboriginal people,” Mr Chapple said.

“Traditional Owners, farmers and other landholders currently only have the right to negotiate under the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act; they can either come to an agreement and get something, or oppose entirely and get nothing.

“It really irks me that the National Party would come to a unanimous decision over the rights of Farmers, but ignore the rights of such a large portion of their constituency in providing those same right to Native Title holders.

“The implications of this policy announcement are especially huge in the Kimberley, given Andrew Forrest’s Squadron Energy has this week announced a partnership with controversial Goshawk Energy over more than 220,000 sq km of tenements in the Canning Basin.

“The WA Greens oppose on shore gas development, particularly by hydraulic fracturing, on the basis gas is not a clean transition fuel and the industry is unnecessary given the risks to the environment, water reserves and human health.”

For more information please contact Tim Oliver on 0431 9696 25

Thursday, 6 October

The WA Greens have cautiously welcomed Labor’s commitment to ban fracking in the South West, but say the policy ignores the vast majority of onshore gas exploration tenements in the Mid West, North West and Kimberley, and should be extended.

“WA Labor are appealing largely to metro voters in announcing this exclusive policy today, effectively saying ‘we don’t care’ about the rest of regional Western Australia,” WA Greens MLC Robin Chapple said.

“Up until last week their policy was to impose a state-wide moratorium on all fracking operations and exploration until a public inquiry could be held. Their new position seems to suggest that this is no longer necessary for most of the state and is a compromise that we find untenable.

“The vast majority of WA’s onshore gas exploration tenements are not in the South West and the fact Labor have ignored this in today’s announcement speaks volumes about what is likely to happen after the March 2017 election if they win government.

“If Labor are genuinely concerned about the impacts of fracking and the viability of this industry in Western Australia then it should be a no-brainer to expand this policy to include those other regions where the majority of exploration tenements lie.

“The WA Greens will be watching closely to make sure that Labor follow through on this promise in the South West, Perth and Peel regions, and pushing hard for an expansion of this policy to include those other regions under threat.

“History should tell us that this intrusive industry poses a major threat to our water, our farmland and our unique and fragile ecosystems. In the face of dangerous climate change, it is completely illogical to continue supporting the expansion of the fossil fuel industry.”

Media contact: Tim Oliver 0431 9696 25

Friday, 16 June

WA Greens Mining spokesperson Robin Chapple MLC said comments made this week by the Australian Conservation Foundation on the potential “toxic legacy” of failing to properly rehabilitate mine sites were particularly relevant for WA.

“Western Australia already has a terrible legacy of more than 18,000 abandoned mine sites – that’s more than 35 per cent of all abandoned mines in Australia,” Mr Chapple said.

 “Mineral Policy Institute’s new report has found that most of these mine closures are unplanned and a result of economic and market forces - it’s something I’ve been talking about since first coming into office in 2001.

“Whilst the state government’s Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) has the potential to be an effective measure to deal with the issue of abandoned mine sites, this system must be in tandem with a bond system over active mine projects.

“Recently, the Victorian government announced a plan to increase the environmental bonds over high-risk La Trobe valley coal projects to 100% of estimated rehabilitation cost over the next 18 months.

“Western Australia has done the exact opposite, retiring over a $1 billion worth of bonds in favour of a one per cent levy that has accumulated just $57 million to date.

“We need a stronger bond system reinstated to accurately reflect the high risk nature of mineral extraction in today’s volatile economic climate, particularly in the fossil fuel industry, and we need to increase the MRF levy to fix the massive problem we already have

“This is not a new problem for our state, but it has been on the backburner for way too long.”

A link to the Mineral Policy Institute Report can be found below.

For comment please contact Tim Oliver on 0431 9696 25 or 9486 8255.

Thursday, 21 April

WA Greens spokesperson on Mining and Petroleum Robin Chapple MLC said he supported farmers and communities across WA “100 per cent” in their opposition to fracking.

“The WA Greens always have been and always will be opposed to the practice of hydraulic fracturing for gas, anywhere and at any time,” Mr Chapple said.

“A moratorium as proposed by the Labor Party is only a delay, or a temporary suspension of fracking in Western Australia; I ask the Labor party ‘a delay until what?’ If anyone were to look at their public record, much like the incumbent government, the Labor party have a strong history of supporting unconventional gas in Western Australia.

“I went to an incredible, thought-provoking presentation last night by a man from Wyoming, USA; a rancher by the name of John Fenton who has been living, not by choice, in the midst of an unconventional gas field.

“He detailed the challenges his family have faced trying to continue farming with unwanted gas fracking operations on their property including sickness, widespread water contamination and diminished rights to do anything except plead for measly compensation.

“If Western Australia goes down this path then the concerns of farmers in the Mid-west and South-West and pastoralists in the Canning Basin in the Kimberley, will be vindicated.

“We absolutely cannot let this destructive industry flourish in our state, particularly in our most fertile food-growing areas and fragile ecosystems.

“Rather than dismiss the lived experiences of people like John Fenton as ‘scare tactics’ I would urge this government to have some humanity and accept the overwhelming evidence about this industry and the horror that comes with it.”

For comment please contact Media Liaison Tim Oliver on 0431 9696 25 or 9486 8255.

Thursday, March 17

WA Greens Mines and Petroleum spokesperson Robin Chapple MLC said he was extremely disappointed by the government’s response to a parliamentary inquiry on fracking.

“The government has taken an already weak, and in my opinion inadequate, set of recommendations from committee and effectively rendered them useless,” Mr Chapple said.

“Western Australia is in a unique position where we can take advantage of other experiences in regulating the hydraulic fracturing industry, and learn from the plethora of mistakes that have been made in other parts of Australia and indeed, around the world.

“It is disappointing, and in fact terrifying, to learn that this government is then willing to bat for this industry without any kind of willingness to ensure we do not make the same mistakes.

“In particular I am shocked with the government’s failure to support recommendation 3, requiring the Department of Mines and Petroleum to refer all fracking proposals on the Environmental Protection Agency.

“But also disheartened by failure to support recommendations protecting landowner’s rights, and banning the use of BTEX chemicals in the hydraulic fracturing process.

“It’s 2016; we should be focusing on energy alternatives and divestment from fossil fuels

“The WA Greens do not support hydraulic fracturing for unconventional gas in Western Australia in the current legislative environment and would like to see greater consideration of the implications of this industry for our state and our future.”

 For comment please contact Media Liaison Tim Oliver on 0431 9696 25 or 9486 8255.

Wednesday, 10 February 2016

Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region, Robin Chapple MLC, has questioned the credibility of the Environmental Protection Agency.

“The latest revelation that EPA board member Jim Limerick has a conflict of interest leaves me seriously questioning their ability to protect the environment” Mr Chapple said.

“I find it remarkable that Mr Limerick was even appointed in the first place, not only did he have an obvious interest with Fremantle Ports, he was formerly the Director General of Industry and Resources and previously CEO of the Department of Industry & Resources.”

Further on 25 June 1994, the Environmental Protection Authority advertised in the West Australian its intention of conducting the Public Environmental Review of the Burrup Peninsula Industrial Plan, subsequently after pressure from the then acting chief executive officer of DRD Jim Limerick, Dr Steedman the head of the EPA agreed to withdraw the proposed assessment.

Mr Limerick at that time in a Fax to the EPA said “we are doing everyone a favour by asking the Minister to return the proposal to the Environmental Protection Authority to review its decision [to assess the Burrup]”

How can we appoint someone to the Authority who actively undermined an EPA assessment in 1994?

“The fact that inappropriate appointments keeps occurring make me wonder whether the membership process is broken.”

“The EPA should be appointing members with actual environmental backgrounds who have real environmental concerns not consultants and former pro industry government officials.”

“I will be asking questions in parliament these coming weeks to find out how many projects are at risk from further conflicts of interest.”

See: EX PARTE CHAPPLE -v- THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY & ORS - Case No: CIV:1879/1994

For comment please contact Robin Chapple 0409 379 263.

Friday, 04 December

WA Greens MLC Robin Chapple yesterday introduced a Mining Act amendment bill that would give communities the power to reject mining proposals within their local government area through planning schemes.

“The purpose of this bill is to address community concerns about the capacity of the Mining Act to override local or regional planning schemes, essentially handing power back to the people,” Mr Chapple said.

“Proposals to mine, and refine, bauxite in the Avon Hills area, and all along the Darling Scarp, have prompted me to bring this bill forward.

“There has been massive community opposition to those proposals from residents in the Shires of Mundaring, Northam and Toodyay who believe – and I strongly agree – that to mine in the Perth Hills so close to the metropolitan area would be both socially and environmentally irresponsible.

“However, there are other significant mining threats to communities across our state – particularly from the fledgling unconventional gas industry – and I hope this bill will also empower other communities who are in opposition to invasive mining activities.

“This Bill delivers to local communities, with the concurrence of the Minister for Planning, the power to reflect in their planning schemes what land uses they want without the Mining Act’s power of veto rendering such schemes merely advisory.”

For comment please contact Media Liaison Tim Oliver on 0431 9696 25 or 9486 8255.

Thursday, 03 December

The Greens WA Mining and Agriculture spokesperson Robin Chapple todaycalled on Premier Colin Barnett, Energy Minister Mike Nahan, and Mining Minister Bill Marmion to support a national framework to give landholders and traditional owners the legal right to say no to coal and gas companies coming onto their land. 

Ministers Nahan and Marmion will be attending a meeting of COAG Mining and Energy Ministers on Friday (4 December), and the issue of a landholders’ right to say 'no' will be on the agenda after Federal Minister Josh Frydenberg confirmed in October that he would “bring the state ministers together to plan a way forward.”

This follows recent statements from Nationals leader Warren Truss, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce and Nationals senator Fiona Nash calling for landholders to be able to veto exploration and extraction on their properties.

“The public overwhelmingly support farmers and traditional owners having the right to protect their land and water from coal and gas companies and Friday’s COAG meeting is an opportunity to finally see some action from our government,” Greens MP Robin Chapple said.

“Now is the time for action.  The Premier and his Ministers need to go into the COAG meeting on Friday and stand with the landholders and Traditional Owners of Western Australia to give them the ability to say no to coal and gas mining on their land.”

“Landholders are sick of politicians at a federal and state level talking a big game, only to do nothing.”

"Coal seam gas and coal exploration is highly disruptive to farming activities and risks polluting the land and water.  It is time for the WA Government to act and move to legislate to protect our state’s agriculture, heritage and environment.”

Senator Richard Di Natale, Australian Greens Leader, said COAG must act urgently to give landholders in every state and territory legal rights to say no to coal and gas mining on their land.

“We Greens have legislation in the federal and state Parliaments to give landholders the legal rights they deserve to protect their land, water and climate.

“The Nationals say one thing in regional communities and the media and then do the opposite in Parliament.”

“Communities are sick of the empty promises and the Greens are standing with them to demand that COAG finally acts to fix this injustice,” Senator Di Natale said.

Contact (Robin Chapple): Tim Oliver – 9486 8255 or 0431 969 625
Contact (Richard Di Natale): Andrew Blyberg – 0457 901 600 

Wednesday, 18 November

Following tragic fires in Western Australia and the Climate Council's report<https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/burningissuereport2015> on bushfire preparedness, the Australian Greens are calling for governments to work together on a plan for longer fire seasons that looks after firefighters.

The Hon Robin Chapple MLC, WA Greens Climate change spokesperson said:

“In the aftermath of the recent devastating fires that killed four people near Esperance, we need to look at a long-term plan for the inevitably hotter, dryer conditions we will see in the future.

“A report, released today by the Climate Council, has found that climate change is already seeing Australia face a longer, harsher bushfire season each year as 2015 looks likely to surpass last year as the hottest on record.

“The report also found that because fire seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are increasingly lengthening and overlapping, shared firefighting equipment like aircraft is in increased demand.

“We need a plan that looks after our firefighters and provides them with the equipment, staffing and support they need to protect Australians over longer fire seasons.

“Instead, we have a government who has actively done nothing to combat the very real effects climate change will have on our hot, dry state; indeed, effects we are already tragically seeing.

“For this, and myriad other reasons, Western Australia needs to drastically increase its commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change and work together with the rest of Australia to improve our bushfire preparedness in the face of this summer’s forecast El Nino.”

For comment please contact Media liaison Tim Oliver on 9486 8255.