Question to the Premier on Limestone Coast Gas Moratorium

Mr FATCHEN (Mount Gambier) (14:55): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier advise the house of the dates locations and methods of advertising used for the two community drop-in consultation sessions reportedly held in Mount Gambier and Naracoorte regarding the proposed lifting of the moratorium on unconventional gas development in the Limestone Coast? With your leave, ma'am, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr FATCHEN: During the government's online community briefing held last week on the proposed lifting of the moratorium the presenter stated that community consultation had already taken place, including at the Country Cabinet Community Forum and through two drop-in sessions held in Mount Gambier and Naracoorte. Local media have since reported that a government spokesperson confirmed there had been sessions but did not confirm the locations and how they were advertised to Limestone Coast residents. Given the significance of this issue to our region, it is important that the community has confidence that consultation opportunities were genuinely accessible and well publicised.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:56): I could not agree with the member for Mount Gambier more, so vote for it, mate. Okay? If you want to see consultation happen in the South-East you have to vote for it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: We know your anti-gas position so let's just focus on the facts. It is true that the whole of this cabinet went down to Mount Gambier and had the courage to look people in the eye and say, 'We want to introduce legislation to parliament that lifts the moratorium to allow a formal consultation process to be engaged in with the department,' as is required under statute, to not frack, not mine gas, but to explore and scientifically assess and consult—not consultation on doing it, consultation on actually getting out there and doing the work in case it is proven up to be scientifically sound. That is what we are seeking to do through the moratorium.

Now, it is true that we announced that position at a Country Cabinet with everyone there and, as the member for Mount Gambier knows, I advised him the day before that Country Cabinet that the government was going to announce that position and he can advocate accordingly, which he has chosen to do, which is his prerogative as the member for Mount Gambier and I respect that. But outside of that just to explain that we are introducing legislation to start a process to seek to pursue a process of consultation, which is pretty much consultation on consultation.

We have facilitated drop-in sessions in Mount Gambier on 21 May and Naracoorte on 22 May. They are drop-in sessions for people to ask questions and say, 'Hey, what is this controversy that the government is starting?' Then we can say that we have legislation in the parliament to consult on consulting.

Putting aside the member for Mount Gambier's interest and the member for MacKillop's interest, I would have thought the Liberal Party of Australia would say, 'Do you know what, we are happy to start a period of consultation to look at the science around this.' But instead what have we got? What have we got from the alternative government, from the party that projects economics to be treated seriously? We've got, 'No, no. We are the Liberal Party, we are going to shut the gate, we are not interested—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —in a formal consultation process, we are not interested in the science, we are not interested in the economics, we are going to stop the process.' That is your prerogative. I acknowledge Angus Taylor's remarks about your position and how economically reckless and irresponsible it is. It speaks to what you have become. It speaks to the type of politics that, frankly, the member for Bragg is the national champion of, the nimby-in-chief—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order on my left! Order on my right!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: The member for Bragg has got a political philosophy all of his own: billions of promises for Burnside, and look at me, I survive. What a genius. We held on to Bragg. Stop all the developments. Lock that in. The former member for Hammond is here—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order on my right!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —wondering, 'How did I end up here and he ended up there?' Because he promised everything to the people of Burnside. It's a simple policy. You were locked out. We base our policy on science and economics. We have had drop-in sessions. Presumably, the member for Mount Gambier welcomes those. I am happy to let you know if any others come up in the future.