Fracking poses a massive risk to water – iconic Northern Territory water sources like the mighty Roper River and the recharge zones for the Mataranka Hot Springs are under threat, as is the Fitzroy River catchment in the Kimberley in Western Australia.
But measures in place in national environmental laws to assess the impacts of gas drilling on water resources, do not apply to fracking in Northern Australia. That means there is no independent expert assessment of water impacts and no decision by the Federal Environment Minister.
The Federal Labor Government promised before the last election to fix this gaping loophole, but they haven't delivered yet. Traditional Owners and residents from across northern Australia are calling for urgent action to keep that promise.
Sign this petition to Environment Minister Plibersek today to get urgent reforms so that the impacts of gas fracking on water sources is independently assessed under national environment laws.
Dear Minister Plibersek,
Thank you for committing to expand the water trigger to cover shale and tight gas fracking as part of the national environmental law reforms.
However, we can’t wait until next year to get our water protected, because gas companies are pushing ahead to get gas production approvals this year.
We’re calling on you to bring forward the expanded water trigger now, so that the severe risk fracking poses to water is properly assessed by independent experts before any gas production occurs.
Please respect Territorians and West Australians who want the same protections for water that exist for east coast gas activities.
Signed sincerely,
