Gas exploration a positive for Benambra

THE Coalition’s new policy on gas exploration will mean cheaper power costs to homes and businesses, says Member for Benambra Bill Tilley.

The policy echoes his own sentiments expressed during the debate on the Resources Legislation Amendment (Fracking Ban) Bill 2016 in February.

“One of the ways we can protect Benambra’s manufacturing industry is by not being conned by this leftist Labor government and their dangerous extreme Greens buddies’ deceptive campaign to block onshore gas exploration in this state,” he told the parliament

The policy announced today by Matthew Guy and Peter Walsh will provide cheaper gas and create more jobs while protecting our environment and farmland. It would legislate to allow onshore conventional gas exploration and production in Victoria on a case-by-case basis.

The policy, which is promised within 100 days of forming government, will create a royalty scheme that will allow landowners to benefit from gas produced from beneath their land. Landowners will receive a 10% share of the royalty paid to government of the net post-wellhead sales value of recovered gas. The rights of landowners will also be protected with a right of veto over conventional gas exploration and production on their land.

Quotes attributable to Mr Tilley

“Affordable gas is critical to our community.

“Thousands of people in this electorate are employed by businesses, on either side of the border, that rely on gas. These businesses, like so many others around the state, have been crippled by rising gas prices, a cost largely driven by the lack of supply and the fact that the Andrews’ Labor Government had banned further exploration until at least 2020.

“The cost affects their bottom line, it affects their future, it affects jobs.

“People in their own homes, often the most vulnerable in our society, have been choosing not to turn on the heater this winter rather than be hit with a gas bill they can’t pay.

“This policy encourages exploration, will build gas reserves and lead to cheaper power bills.

“When it comes to gas, Daniel Andrews’ Labor Government is good at “gas-lighting” not gas policy.”

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