Western Australia joins two-thirds of country to ban fracking

‘The largest state in Australia has announced a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking. Western Australia (WA) becomes the fifth state in the country to stop the oil extraction process considered dangerous for the environment.
“We appreciate there is a level of community concern around fracking in WA, which is why we are commissioning an independent scientific inquiry,” said Environment Minister Stephen Dawson in a statement posted on his website.
The ban on fracking freezes more than A$380 million (about $300 million) in investment in new onshore projects, said Stedman Ellis, Chief operating officer of Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association WA.
With the Tuesday announcement, fracking is now banned or temporarily prohibited on almost two-thirds of Australian territory.’
Read more: Western Australia joins two-thirds of country to ban fracking