Overdue Lift On Gas Ban
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur spoke in favour of the Labor Government’s decision to lift the moratorium on onshore conventional gas exploration.
The Liberal Nationals proposed amendments which would have ensured royalties and a veto power for landowners over exploration on their land.
The Government has said it will take 12 months to get the regulations in place to begin exploration.
The Coalition’s amendment would have allowed for commencement if regulations were completed earlier.
Unfortunately, all three amendments were defeated.
In her speech, Mrs McArthur said that the lifting of the moratorium was “simply far too late, [and] that years have been wasted with investment in gas exploration turned away, with households and businesses suffering the consequences of lower supply and higher prices.”
“In Western Victoria this is clear. In agriculture, dairy processing plants and feed mills are dependent on natural gas for energy provision and in the manufacturing processes, as are kiln-drying timber plants.”
“I have long argued against this moratorium on the grounds of its cost to households and businesses and the damaging effect it has on investment and job creation.”
Mrs McArthur said on the issue of sharing royalties with landowners, that “It is only right that farmers and others should receive the appropriate commercial payments for all mining and petroleum activities on their land.”
“Lifting the moratorium is vital for this state, it is vital for my electorate, it is vital for business expansion and it is vital for agriculture and other western Victorian industries,” she concluded.
17 June 2020