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Fracking ban to protect the Kimberley’s precious places: Greens

Friday, 27 January
Liz Vaughan, Greens candidate for the Kimberley, is calling for a ban on fracking and unconventional gas across the region saying the risks of pollution to the Fitzroy River, Roebuck Plains, town drinking water supplies and tourism hotspots like Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek is too high.
“Gas fracking has been shown to contaminate water with toxic chemicals, once they’re in the system there’s no way of cleaning them up. People rely on clean, freshwater across the Kimberley not just to drink but also because it’s essential to keep species like Barramundi and Cherabin healthy,”
“I’d like to call on the other parties to clarify their position on fracking because people across the region are very concerned and want to know who to vote for to protect their water and their country; they need to spell out their position.
“The Nationals have declared they support veto rights for farmers, but have not extended this support to Traditional owners. Labor have declared they want a moratorium for more research into the practice, despite overwhelming evidence on the dangers of this industry, and will only support a ban in the South West.
“The WA Greens are the only party who recognise that this risky, polluting and unnecessary industry is a threat to our water, our country and the future of our precious places; the WA Greens support a total ban on fracking and unconventional gas in the Kimberley, and across WA.
“The Kimberley has one of the world’s most intact landscapes and the oldest living culture. The industry of the future for the Kimberley is tourism and we should be doing everything we can to ensure that we protect what we have, and invest in its future as the Kimberley.
“Industry reports state there is potential for more than 40,000 gas fracking wells in the region. This would threaten our reputation as an environmental and cultural tourism destination – the last great untouched wilderness - and be a disaster for industries trading on environmentally friendly products and this image of the Kimberley.”
Media contact:
Tim Oliver 0431 9696 25 / 08 9486 8255

National Party fracking veto rights not extended to Traditional Owners

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

World Heritage for threatened Burrup Peninsula reveals deep divisions in Government

Tuesday, 23 August

WA Greens Aboriginal Affairs spokesperson Robin Chapple MLC has welcomed the WA Nationals support for World Heritage Listing of the Burrup Peninsula, despite Aboriginal Affairs Minister Peter Collier stating the Government’s policy remains unchanged.

“In a speech made to Aboriginal elders, local councillors and other important members of the Pilbara community at the Cossack Art Awards last month Mr Grylls, now WA Nationals Leader, stated he was strongly supportive of seeking World Heritage listing for the Burrup Peninsula,” Mr Chapple said.

“Yet Mr Collier has confirmed in Parliament he has no intentions of seeking World Heritage Listing for the Burrup Peninsula, further highlighting the deep divisions within this government.

“Stating that ‘World Heritage Listing would not confer any additional statutory protection’ but that he was committed to helping traditional owners‘achieve cultural aspirations’, Mr Collier’s justifications were contradictory and highly culturally insensitive.

“Not only would World Heritage Listing provide the Burrup Peninsula with the recognition it deserves, internationally, as one of the most important early rock art sites in Australia but achieving this recognition and level of protection is, and has been for a long time, a significant aspiration of Traditional Owners.

“With the Yara Pilbara Technical Ammonium Nitrate Production Facility set to enter production later this year there are massive existing, and further potential, threats that must be acknowledged by this Parliament.”

Hon Robin Chapple MLC nominated the Burrup Peninsula and Dampier Archipelago for World Heritage Listing in 2003 to then Federal Environment Minister David Kemp.

A copy of the Aboriginal Affairs Minister Peter Collier’s response in Parliament on Thursday, 18 August 2016, along with some historical documents relating to the World Heritage aspirations of Traditional Owners with regards to the Burrup Peninsula are attached.

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