2017-11-30
Greens South-West MLC Diane Evers says the McGowan Government’s independent scientific panel inquiry into hydraulic fracking appears to be on shaky ground with Greens’ questions in Parliament’s this week exposing concerns about industry connections of one of the panellists.
There are also further doubts that an inquiry with a dedicated budget of $591,000 will be too limited in its investigative capabilities.
“While I have no reason to doubt that one of the so-called ‘independent’ inquiry panellists, Dr Jackie Wright, is effective at her work, the fact remains that her usual work involves being a consultant for industry, including fracking companies, and that cannot be defined as ‘independent’ in this context,” Ms Evers said.
“I am further aware that at least one of Dr Wright’s previous paid reports for the fracking industry in New South Wales was severely criticised by community leaders for understating the potential environmental health impacts of fracking chemicals.
“We were already disappointed that the inquiry would involve inadequate community consultation; now we know that the inquiry’s total dedicated budget s just $591,000, which for the size of the WA and breadth of potential environmental impacts, does not sound like much.
“It raises the question, will this inquiry amount to anything more than a desktop review and a public relations exercise?
“If so, the McGowan Government is on notice that approach will not satisfy either the Greens or the community.”