Fracking

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:48): Supplementary: given the minister's answer that there should not be a moratorium on fracking anywhere in this state, why did his own department tell the Natural Resources Committee that 'we have a ban, we have a moratorium on fracture stimulation in the South-East'?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Davenport is warned for the second and final time.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:48): The member is deliberately, I think, trying to construe taking out a selective quote. The Statement of Environmental Objectives, if they are in place, of course don't preclude fracture stimulation. What we don't allow anyone to do in this state is to simply start drilling a hole and fracture stimulating. That is prohibited unless you have the appropriate licensing. So, there is, in fact, across the entire state without the appropriate licensing—

Mr Marshall: A ban, a moratorium.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: You can apply anywhere in South Australia to fracture stimulate currently. What the opposition has done is announce a region where, regardless of the science and technology or your ability to prove you can do it safely—

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is warned.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —you are banned anyway. What we do is minimise harm. We have an approach, and our first principle is to do no harm so, yes, we do not allow anyone to fracture stimulate. They must prove to the agency that they can do it safely without doing any harm to the natural environment. Only after they are licensed can they in fact fracture stimulate.

The shadow minister attempting to take that out without understanding what the agency means means that (1) he is not an advocate for the industry and (2) he doesn't understand the elementary processes. Quite frankly, how he can stay in this position with that policy amazes me. If he had any decency, he would resign.

The SPEAKER: The member for Napier.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Supplementary, sir?

The SPEAKER: The member for Napier.