Fracking in WA

Friday, 20 November

WA Greens spokesperson on Mines and Petroleum Robin Chapple MLC claims a report tabled yesterday into the unconventional gas industry doesn’t go far enough in addressing known issues with the industry.

“Areas where fracking is proposed in Western Australia include some of our most fragile groundwater reserves, fertile farmlands and pristine and threatened ecosystems,” Mr Chapple said.

“Rather than properly address evidence and historical experiences with the industry, both from the East Coast and from other countries, this report perpetuates the myth that fracking is ultimately a pretty safe industry; this is false.

“Not only is this an extremely dangerous industry, but it is also unnecessary; Western Australia has no need for gas and contrary to what this government will have you believe, we are not a major exporter either.

“Furthermore, there is overwhelming community opposition towards the industry in the very places that exploration permits have been granted. Indeed, many of these communities have declared themselves ‘gasfield free’ with close to 100% support.

“All I see is a puppet government who continues to do the bidding of multinational mining corporations without care or consequence.”

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

Tuesday, 26 May

The WA Greens have praised the Kimberley community for its engagement on a range of important regional issues at the Kimberley Green Future Forum, hosted in Broome over the weekend.

Australian Greens Deputy Leader Senator Scott Ludlam and Senator Rachel Siewert joined WA Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC for the public forum.

Threats from fracking and large scale uranium mining, the closure of remote indigenous communities, uncertainty around the rollout of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy, renewable energy uptake in the Kimberley and changes to the Aboriginal Heritage Act, amongst other issues, were all brought to the table.

Mr Chapple said it was fantastic to be able to have a conversation with the community about issues that were genuinely important to them; regional areas, particularly the far North of WA, are too often ignored by politicians.

“For us, the Greens, it was about getting up there and showing that we care about Kimberley issues and are willing to fight for them at a state and federal level,” he said.

“As a member representing the Mining and Pastoral region it was also exciting to be able to give my electorate the opportunity to engage face-to-face with my federal colleagues just as I know they were excited to be there.

“I was personally humbled that we had such a great turnout, especially members of the East Kimberley Greens who had travelled from Kununurra and some who had come in from the desert, and such a high level of intelligent engagement; Kimberley people are passionate about protecting this beautiful and unique region and I applaud them for it.”

For comment please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255.

Media liaison: Tim Oliver // 0431 9696 25          

The Greens are calling on the state government to introduce a moratorium on fracking in Western Australia after news that Tasmania would extend its current ban for another five years. 

WA Greens spokesperson for Mining and Petroleum Robin Chapple MLC said fracking was moving forward in Western Australia with very little assessment or understanding of what affects the mining practice might have on our land, water and air quality. 

“Some of the evidence that’s coming out of New South Wales and Victoria, and especially from America, about fracking is damning,” he said. 

“You’ve got methane gas leaking on the surface, contaminated drinking water through the pumping of dangerous chemical and hydrocarbons under the water table, millions of litres of contaminated water that must be disposed of, mass land clearing and destruction of native vegetation and potential links to seismic activity. 

“There are now entire counties in the USA that resemble desolate, barren wastelands; totally uninhabitable. 

“The potential long-term effects of fracking for WA are extremely hard to measure which is why it is essential that we learn from other states, and countries, that have allowed this practice on a large scale." 

Mr Chapple said WA must follow Tasmania’s example and place a moratorium on the practice. 

“Right now, the fledgling industry has very little regulation in Western Australia,” he said. 

“In many cases there has been no environmental assessment or approvals process and the companies involved are only required to pay 50% of the royalty rate. 

“This is utterly unacceptable and I call on the state government to step into line with Tasmania." 

For comment please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255.

Media liaison: Tim Oliver     

Mobile: 0431 9696 25

Thursday, 11 December

Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC has slammed Buru Energy’s Yulleroo operations after disturbing images have surfaced showing the decaying remains of a wild dingo trapped in a water pond.

Mr Chapple said this was just one of many animals found dead or rescued from Buru’s tailings dams since operations began in the area several years ago.

“It’s not just dingoes but also reptiles, birds and various small marsupials that have been found trapped in these ponds,” he said.

“These tailings dams contain a toxic mixture of chemicals from the fracking process and also often include heavy metal traces and hydrocarbons drawn up from deep underground as a part of fluid recovery.

“They are clearly not addressing the reality that native animals will see these ponds and assume they are a safe water source.”

Mr Chapple said Buru’s fracking operations in the Kimberley should be immediately halted until such time as they have received proper and thorough environmental assessment.

“Buru energy have proven time and again that they are not fit to manage, nor have they properly assessed, the potential environmental impacts of this invasive mining process,” he said.

“Until such time as they can guarantee that precious groundwater reserves won’t be contaminated, local ecosystems won’t be affected and native fauna won’t continue to die horrible deaths in their toxic ponds then they should not be allowed to continue operations.”

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255.

Thursday, 11 December

Fracking in the Canning Basin is taking place against the wishes of the lands traditional owners, the Yawuru People, according to Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC.

Yawuru man Micklo Corpus said that Buru Energy had not listened to the Yawuru people and this was a serious breach of their rights, given that 94% of the Yawuru were against the process.

Mr Chapple said Buru Energy had already established a network of more than 3500 kilometres worth of seismic lines and several test fracking wells in the area, all on Yawuru land.

“This strikes right to the heart of our government’s attitude towards indigenous people in Western Australia,” he said.

“Any development the government considers on Yawuru lands, especially one as invasive as fracking, should not be undertaken unless the express permission of the Traditional owners is given first.

“More than anything this is about showing respect to traditional owners and it should be standard practice.”

Mr Chapple said fracking in the Canning Basin was just another inclusion to an expanding list of backwards decisions made by the Barnett government along with the closure of more than 150 remote communities and significant proposed changes to the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

For more information please watch this video or contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255.