Australian State of Tasmania Decides to Continue With Fracking Ban

The Tasmanian government has decided to extend ban on hydraulic fracking for five years as a measure to protect the state's agricultural industry.

“The Liberal Government supports a strong and thriving agriculture industry in Tasmania, which is why we have applied a precautionary principle when considering any measures that could impact on the sector's ability to grow ten-fold to $10 billion a year by 2050,” the government said Thursday.

The state declared a one-year fracking moratorium in March 2014. 

The government received 157 submissions as part of the review conducted by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, together with the Environment Protection Authority and Mineral Resources Tasmania, which concluded earlier this month.

The Minister for Primary Industries and Water Jeremy Rockliff said given the uncertainty around fracking this would protect Tasmania's reputation for producing fresh, premium and safe produce.

"There is considerable concern around the potential negative impacts of fracking, particularly within our rural communities and farming families who rely so heavily on our global reputation for producing premium and safe products," he said.

However, the minister said that the state supports exploration for resources such as shale gas and petroleum, without the use of fracking.

A review into the practice of fracking will be conducted before the moratorium expires in March 2020.