AN anti-fracking alliance says a recent survey in Fremantle has shown a vulnerability for the Cook government and incumbent MLA Simone McGurk over the controversial gas extraction method.
Representatives from the Lock the Gate Alliance surveyed 900-odd people over their views on a fracking ban in the Kimberley, with 363 specifically doorknocked on how the issue might affect their vote in the upcoming March state election.
Lock the Gate says while more than 90 per cent of those asked supported a ban in the Kimberley, it was the 71.9 per cent of Freo folk who said the issue might influence their voting patterns that should be furrowing Labor’s brow.
• Lock the Gate volunteers Rocky Terry and Niki Ruane surveyed Freo folk and found that fracking might be a bigger election issue than expected.
The group presented their findings to Ms McGurk, who is also the state’s water minister.
Currently US firm Black Mountain has an application in to drill about 20 wells to a depth of around 5 kilometres near Derby, but if the technique proves successful, to move into commercial production they’re likely to need to drill several hundred wells.
Fremantle local and Lock the Gate volunteer Rocky Terry helped conduct the surveys and said the residents he interviewed were “really passionate” about a state-wide fracking ban.
“It’s pretty obvious what the people of Fremantle want… they don’t want the beautiful wilderness of the Kimberley subject to fracking,” Mr Terry said.
“They have a clear understanding of what fracking is and the [environmental] threat that it poses, and have made it clear they do not want fracking in the Kimberley.
“They’re not proposing fracking yet, but as I said [to Ms McGurk], we can stop it with her help.”
Resolute
Despite Lock the Gate’s enthusiasm for the survey results, Notre Dame’s head of politics Martin Drum said the small sample size made it “unlikely” the issue would be a major vote swinger in the election.
However, Alliance coordinator Claire McKinnon said the survey participants were “resolute” in requesting a complete ban and were well aware of the upcoming state election.
“Lock the Gate has more than 1700 active supporters in the Fremantle electorate, and we’ll be working hard right the way through the election, calling on the Cook government to act,” Ms McKinnon said.
“In 2018 the Labor Government sensibly banned fracking across much of WA because they know it’s what the community wants, yet failed to protect the Kimberley from this risky, polluting industry.
“West Australians recognise the Kimberley is no place for industrialised and polluting fracking projects… it’s time the government realised that too.”
Ms McGurk, who was presented with the survey by Lock the Gate, reiterated that a majority of WA was covered by a moratorium of some kind.
“When Labor came to government in 2017, we inherited existing fracking leases that had been granted before we came to office, so we immediately committed to commission independent scientific advice on how to best manage community concerns about the fracking process,” Ms McGurk said.
“As a result of that advice, we have now implemented a policy to ban any fracking projects in 98 per cent of the state.
“National parks, a vast majority of the Kimberley, including the Dampier Peninsula and public water source areas are protected from any fracking activity.”
Ms McGurk wouldn’t be drawn on whether she thought the issue might affect her vote. She currently holds the seat with a stronghold margin of 23 per cent.
by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER