Category: Government and Politics / Oil and Gas

Bill Shorten supports NT Labor's fracking moratorium

Thursday, 26 May 2016 10:09:53

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has offered support for Northern Territory Labor's controversial policy to put a moratorium on gas fracking, saying it is based on "the best science available".

Key points:

  • Shorten says "science should win out"
  • Labor Leader offers support for retiring Senator Nova Peris
  • Attacks comments from Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce

Mr Shorten, in Darwin today as part of the federal election campaign, weighed in to the political debate in the Northern Territory about hydraulic fracturing - or fracking - to obtain natural gas and oil.

NT Labor has said it will impose a moratorium in fracking in the NT until its full impact can be determined, if it wins an election due on August 27.

"I believe that when it comes to the environment and the economy science should win out," Mr Shorten said.

"I believe that the Northern Territory Labor's position is based upon the best science available."

A 2014 report by Dr Allan Hawke commissioned by the NT Government to assess fracking and its potential environmental effects on the environment found there was "no justification whatsoever" for a moratorium on the practice.

Since NT Labor adopted their moratorium policy resources company Pangaea Resources suspended its drilling program, citing uncertainty around fracking as one of the main reasons.

'I respect Nova Peris'

Mr Shorten, who was with outgoing labor Senator Nova Peris today as she announced she would be quitting politics, also used his appearance on 105.7 ABC Darwin to offer his support for her.

"She is my friend, I respect her," Mr Shorten said.

"I would rather Nova and indeed any of my team, if they don't feel they have got it in them to go on for the next three years, this is when I want to find out, not after an election," he said.

He said he only learned of her plans about a day before the story broke in the media.

There has been speculation Ms Peris quit politics because she is seeking a senior role at the AFL.

Response to Barnaby Joyce live cattle comments

Mr Shorten also responded to comments from Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who last night linked a decision by the Labor government in 2011 to temporarily ban live cattle exports to Indonesia.

"What I am not going to do is let the Government's sort of clown brigade roll into the circus and say that somehow the live animal issue is tied up to asylum seekers," Mr Shorten said.

"Why are they raising this and is it anything to do with the timing of the election?"

Since his comments last night, Mr Joyce has sought to clarify his remarks.

Mr Joyce has tried to clarify and limit the damage of his comments by speaking on Channel Seven on Thursday morning.

"I'm not saying that this caused the Indonesians to start sending people across, I never suggested that," he said.



 

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