Newman can’t overlook risks on shale gas

Media Release

Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for State Development Tim Mulherin said the Premier must listen to the concerns of scientific experts that the extraction of shale gas could impact agricultural areas in south-west Queensland.

“Campbell Newman has proven he doesn’t want to listen to anyone, but that must change,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The Premier promised to consult more following the Redcliffe by-election, but he’s failed to consult on the doctors’ crisis, he’s failed to consult on asset sales and now he looks unlikely to consult on shale gas."
“Has he even consulted Vaughan Johnson and Howard Hobbs? How those two can stand by while the Premier threatens hundreds of farmers in their electorates is beyond me."
“We know that Jeff Seeney has no credibility in the bush and neither he or Lawrence Springborg or John McVeigh seem willing to take on their Cabinet colleagues – assuming Campbell Newman has even told them of his plans."

“The remnants of the old National Party must learn from the actions of Dr Chris Davis on the doctors’ crisis and stand up to Newman on this important issue."
“If the Premier pushes on with his plans for shale gas development without proper consideration, he’ll be putting the profits of foreign energy companies ahead of the sustainability of Queensland’s agricultural industry and the best interests of the environment.”
Mr Mulherin said mapping from the CSIRO showed that significant shale gas deposits had been discovered in the Cooper Basin where the Newman Government has recently overturned Wild River protections on gas and oil developments, opening the door for the potentially dangerous shale gas fracking extraction process.
“Unlike coal seam gas, the fracking process for shale gas is far more intensive and has the potential to pose far greater risks to agricultural and livestock production in Queensland."

“The Commonwealth funded Australian Council of Learned Academics in their study on shale gas in Australia last year stated that:
“Groundwater dependent ecosystems, such as the important Artesian springs fed by the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) could be impacted by shale gas operations in the Cooper and Galilee Basins.”

“The report also said:
“Based on the US experience, uncontained flowback of spent hydraulic fracturing fluid might also impact on wetland groundwater dependent ecosystems and other aquatic ecosystems…”
“The Premier can’t rush in and allow the extraction of shale gas from Queensland without a full analysis of the potential impacts."
“The United States Environmental Protection Agency is also yet to conclude its study into the safety of hydraulic fracturing from shale gas and its potential impact on water resources after finding in 2011 that several deep water monitoring wells had unsafe levels of chemicals used in fracking.”
“The Premier must accept that this is not an industry that can be pursued at any cost.”


Sources: - 

http://www.acola.org.au/index.php/projects/securing-australia-s-future/project-6; 

http://www.csiro.au/Outcomes/Energy/Energy-from-oil-and-gas/Shale-gas-potential.aspx 

http://www.climatechange.gov.au/sites/climatechange/files/files/climate-change/nger/nga-factsheet7.pdf