Lead

The South Australian government has introduced a bill to lift a 10-year ban on fracking in the state's South East, a move it says is necessary to address gas supply risks. But the proposal faces significant political opposition and appears likely to be blocked in the upper house, according to multiple reports.

The moratorium, legislated in 2018 by the then-Liberal government, was due to expire in 2028. The Malinauskas Labor government now wants to end it two years early, arguing it would allow exploration and planning in the region's Otway Basin.

However, the government does not have the numbers to pass the legislation without support from either the Liberals or One Nation — and both parties have stated they will oppose the bill.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) consistently describes the proposal as facing defeat, with the Liberals and One Nation both pledging to vote against it. The ABC notes the government's decision has "sparked outrage" in the region, with more than 200 people attending a community cabinet meeting in Mount Gambier last week, many carrying protest signs.

The government argues the move does not constitute approval for fracking activity, but would "allow any future proposals in the South East to begin the planning, technical studies and baseline environmental work needed to support regulatory assessment," as stated in a government statement reported by the ABC.

Energy and Mining Minister Tom Koutsantonis has said his department "conservatively estimates" about 200 petajoules of known gas reserves in the onshore Otway Basin in South Australia — roughly 10 years' worth of the state's strategic gas supply. He argues that extracting 20 petajoules a year could create an oversupply of gas and lower energy prices across the state.

Key Claims

The key facts and claims reported across the coverage include:

  • The ban was put in place in 2018 by the then-Liberal government due to community concerns about potential damage to the local aquifer.
  • The government's bill to lift the ban will be introduced in parliament next week, according to its announcement.
  • The proposed early end to the moratorium is supported by the government on gas supply grounds, but the government says it does not represent approval for any specific fracking project.
  • The South Australian Liberal Party, the Greens, and One Nation all oppose lifting the ban, and the Liberals and One Nation have said they will block the legislation in the upper house.
  • Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, who spoke at an oil and gas conference in Adelaide, supports fast-tracking oil and gas projects but said there was room for "localised debates" about individual projects.
  • Farmers and producers in the South East oppose lifting the ban, citing concerns about groundwater contamination and risks to the region's "clean, green" reputation, particularly the Coonawarra wine region.
  • The moratorium is currently set to expire in late 2028, at which point fracking would become permissible unless a permanent ban is enacted.

Perspectives

Government perspective: The South Australian government argues that lifting the ban early is necessary to secure gas supply and reduce energy prices. Minister Koutsantonis has highlighted the potential of the Otway Basin's known reserves and the need to begin planning and environmental studies.

Opposition and crossbench perspective: The Liberal Party and One Nation oppose the bill, with One Nation MP Carlos Quaremba stating the party is "vehemently against it" and has "no interest in punching holes in prime agricultural land." Liberal frontbencher Nicola Centofanti said her party understood the importance of the region's prime agricultural land and would not support the bill. This makes passage through the upper house unlikely.

Community perspective: Many local farmers, producers, and residents are opposed to fracking, with concerns centered on groundwater protection. Grape grower Peter Balnaves accused the government of "arrogance," warning of risks to water quality and the region's clean-and-green image. Tony Beck, a farmer near Mount Gambier, said the risk of a single failure contaminating the aquifer was simply "too great," and called for a permanent ban instead.

Federal political context: Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor's support for fast-tracking gas projects appears at odds with the South Australian Liberals' stance, though he acknowledged that individual states should make decisions on such projects. This dynamic adds a layer of complexity to the debate, as the federal Coalition pushes for increased gas production nationally while its state counterparts in South Australia resist it locally.