Victoria’s opposition says the release of new oil and gas reserves for exploration off the west coast makes a “complete mockery” of the state’s onshore gas exploration moratorium. The areas being released are near major existing producing gas fields, established infrastructure and underground gas storage, including the Otway gas processing plant. Victoria’s Labor government has banned onshore unconventional gas exploration and development – including hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and coal-seam gas – and extended a moratorium on conventional onshore gas exploration until 2020. Morrison denies Northern Territory's extra $260m is for lifting fracking ban Read moreThe opposition energy and resources spokesman, David Southwick, said the invitation to drill for gas from onshore was a “complete mockery” of the ban. “The issue today and every day, until [prime minister Malcolm] Turnbull steps up and provides the national leadership that is essential, is to reserve Australian gas for Australian households and Australian businesses,” Andrews said.

Source: The Guardian May 17, 2018 06:45 UTC