WAFarmers welcomes the announcement from the State Government that will allow traditional owners, freehold land owners and lease holders to decide whether hydraulic fracturing can take place on their land.
WAFarmers President Tony York said WAFarmers has continually supported the right for farmers to have the final say on what occurs on their property.
“In the WAFarmers submission to the Independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing, we suggested the decision for fracking to occur on freehold and leased land be left to individual farmers to negotiate the terms of access,” Mr York said.
“WAFarmers will always support our members and the wider industry’s right to farm and to have the ultimate decision whether exploration occurs on their property.
“Farmers are strong advocates for the environment and water resources; it is in producer’s best interest to care for their land. WAFarmers will continue to advocate for further mechanisms to control how environmental and water resources can be protected and ultimately giving the land holder the right of veto.
“WAFarmers are pleased to see the Government has adopted all 44 of the recommendations from the Scientific Review and has done well to find a balance between protecting the state’s environmental assets and growing the state’s economy.
“WAFarmers will be encouraging the State Government to formally adopt the Land Access Agreement which was developed by WAFarmers with Australia Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, vegetablesWA and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA and make it an enforceable document.”
28 November 2018