Friends of the Earth released this statement on November 21.
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Friends of the Earth has welcomed today鈥檚 announcement by the Premier that the moratorium on the process of unconventional gas fracking will be extended at least until June 2015.
Friends of the Earth campaigns co-ordinator Cam Walker said: 鈥淭his is a good start. Pushing the moratorium out to 2015 will take some of the heat out of the community concern over new fossil fuel projects.
鈥淏ut it will not make the government鈥檚 problems go away. While gas exploration is allowed to continue, and the prospect of new coal allocations exists, the extension simply gives the community more time to get organised against these threats.鈥
鈥淭he Napthine government鈥檚 capitulation to people power on unconventional gas will not diminish the community鈥檚 angst over new coal mining operations.聽
鈥淭he next test for the government will be to see whether it drops plans for a further coal allocation. Napthine needs to understand that new coal is every bit as unpopular as new gas operations in regional聽Victoria.
鈥淲e acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of Deputy Premier Peter Ryan in ensuring the moratorium was extended. Mr Ryan has listened carefully to community concerns.
Lock the Gate co-ordinator Ursula Alquier said:聽鈥淭he state government鈥檚 extension to the moratorium on fracking will not stop the growing movement against unconventional gas.
鈥淭he logical next step for the Premier it to ban any further exploration for unconventional gas and initiate a state inquiry into whether this industry will be safe for land, people and water.
鈥淎 public inquiry under an independent Chair would then provide information that would complement the findings of the 12-month community consultation program that will be carried out by Energy and Resources Minister Nicholas Kotsiras.鈥
鈥淲ithout this data, we will be flying blind on whether this industry can be safe and compatible with continued agricultural activity in a densely populated state like聽Victoria鈥 said Ms Alquier.