Gunner dismisses ACCC claims about moratorium
OPPOSITION Leader Michael Gunner has dismissed an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report recommending against “blanket moratoria” affecting onshore gas.
The ACCC report found “a major cause of uncertainty is onshore exploration bans and regulatory restrictions in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania and a proposed fracking ban in the Northern Territory”.
It was asked to look into the competitiveness of wholesale gas prices in eastern and southern Australia.
Mr Gunner said there was no regulatory reform in place and the proposed moratorium enabled them time to deter- mine issues surrounding hydraulic fracturing.
“In the Territory the problem is fundamental. There is no reformed regulatory regimen in place and there has not been sufficient science done around the specific Northern Territory situation,” he said.
“Nor has the government undertaken any public discussion with Territorians who are concerned about this process.”
The Giles Government has seized on the ACCC report accusing Labor of threatening the future gas supply to the whole of Australia.
Treasurer Dave Tollner described Mr Gunner as selfish.
“The ban by Michael Gunner is not only affecting the future of the NT but also directly affecting the benefits of low cost and low emission energy for the whole of Australia,” he said. “Mr Gunner is selfish in his political ambitions over the future of the NT and the rest of Australia.”
Mr Tollner, who is also the Mines Minister, said the NT has 200 years of gas in only a few remote areas which can be only accessed with Australia’s most stringent environmental controls which were brought into Parliament last week.
In an announcement to the ASX on Friday, oil and gas producer Empire Energy said $35 million worth of work programs in Australia were “likely to be deferred”.
It mentioned “the commercial and political risk of operating in the NT following the recent announcement of a potential fracking ban”.
Empire has 14.6 million acres in the McArthur and Beetaloo Basins in the NT, both of which are considered highly prospective for large shale oil and gas resources.