The Malinauskas Government will introduce legislation to remove the moratorium on hydraulic fracture stimulation in the State’s south east two years before its 2028 expiration.
Hydraulic fracture stimulation or “fracking” is currently permitted everywhere in South Australia, except for the South East, which is subject to a legislated moratorium put in place by the former Marshall Liberal Government in 2018.
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Recently, the Australian Energy Market Operator forecast increasing risks to gas supply in southern Australia from 2029, with additional supply required in many scenarios from 2030.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas pointed to CSIRO’s assertion that gas is the preferred “back up” Australian energy source as a reason for the decision.
“The Iran fuel crisis is giving all Australians a window into what happens when we fail to take our energy security and sovereignty seriously,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“We are acting now so that potential gas opportunities in the South East can be properly assessed under some of the strictest environmental and regulatory safeguards in the country.
“This decision does not approve fracking. It removes a blanket ban and ensures that any future proposal must meet rigorous scientific, environmental and community scrutiny.”
The Energy Resources (Regulated Activities) Amendment Bill will be introduced into State Parliament next week, but the legislation cannot pass through the Upper House without the support of either the Liberals or One Nation—and both parties have stated they will oppose the bill.
“As a party, we are vehemently against it,” One Nation Upper House MP Carlos Quaremba said in a video posted to Facebook.
“We’ve got no interest in punching holes in prime agricultural land.”
Unless either party changes its stance on the bill, the legislation is effectively doomed.
SA Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis has slammed the Liberals’ opposition to the bill as particularly hypocritical, accusing the party of being the “most vocal about the need to unlock new gas potential and safeguard energy security”.
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Fracking will be permitted in the region from 2028 once the moratorium expires.
