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Below: On October 29, 2009, the ABC’s science program, Catalyst, telecast a program on coal stream methane gas production in Australia. It is a detailed and highly informative segment which looks at both the benefits and the disadvantages of the process.
Below: On October 25, 2011, Sydney Radio commentator, Alan Jones, addressed the National Press Club on Australian food security. Included in his address was an attack on fracking as a serious risk to the viability of Australian agricultural land. Below: In September, 2011, the lobby and protest group GetUp had an advertisement produced highlighting the dangers of coal seam gas production in Australia. Below: On February 29, 2012, the ABC News 24 Channel telecast an interview with Dr Ian Duncan, a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr Duncan’s research found many of the accusations of pollution caused by gas extraction were either overstated or part of pre-existing problems. |
 Web links, documents |
Quit Coal is a Melbourne-based lobby group, which campaigns against the expansion of the coal industry in Victoria. It is opposed to the exploitation of coal seam gas.
The group's Internet site gives a detailed account of fracking in Victoria, explaining the process and where it is currently intended to employ it. This can be accessed at http://quitcoal.org.au/fracking-in-victoria/
Quit Coal also produced an information sheet encouraging Victorians to call on the Baillieu government to place a moratorium on coal seam gas development. This can be accessed at http://quitcoal.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/CSG-moratorium-factsheet.pdf
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) has a section of its site given over to explaining how coal seam gas is extracted and arguing that the risks associated with it are minimal and controllable.
This section of the Association's Internet site can be accessed at http://www.appea.com.au/csg/about-csg/what-is-csg.html
On May 2, 2010, the ABC's rural affairs program, Landline, telecast a report titled 'Pipe Dreams'.
The report looks in detail at both the advantages and disadvantages of coal seam gas production, placing a particular emphasis on its impact on rural Queensland communities.
A full transcript of the program and a link to a video cast can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2010/s2888078.htm
In 2011 Practical Mechanics published a piece titled 'Is Fracking Safe? The Top 10 Controversial Claims About Natural Gas Drilling'.
The piece examines ten claims made on both sides of the debate and attempts to demonstrate how much validity there is in each.
It can be accessed at http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/coal-oil-gas/top-10-myths-about-natural-gas-drilling-6386593#slide-1
On March 9, 2012, Crikey published a report by Brian Barnisch titled, 'CSG and the land: straight from the farmers' mouths' which looks at the advantages and disadvantages of coal seam gas (CSG) from the perspective of farmers. It includes detailed background information and gives numerous comments from affected farmers.
The full text can be found at http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/03/09/csg-and-the-land-straight-from-the-farmers-mouths/
In April, 2012, the ABC established an Internet site titled 'Coal Seam Gas by the Numbers'.
It supplies detailed background information on the economic advantages coal seam gas offers; how companies drill for coal seam gas and how the fracking process works; the amount of water used in the process and the salt and chemicals produced as by-products. ABC news reports dealing with fracking are included as links and regularly updated. The site can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/coal-seam-gas-by-the-numbers/
On June 20, 2012, The Los Angeles Daily News published an opinion piece by Dave Quast, the California director for Energy in Depth, a public outreach campaign launched by the Independent Petroleum Association of America. The piece claims that opponents of fracking make unsubstantiated claims.
The full text of the comment can be accessed at http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_20890934/fracking-is-perfectly-safe-petroleum-industry-says
On June 28, 2012, the BBC published a Science & Environment news report detailing the conclusions of a joint report from the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering which states that fracking is safe if firms follow best practice and strict regulations are enforced.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18611647
On July 13, 2012, The Western Slope Watchdog published a comment and background piece by Ron Bain, arguing that many claims made both for and against fracking are unsubstantiated. The piece also looked at some earlier abuses in the history of coal seam gas development which, it suggests, may help to account for popular distrust.
The full text can be accessed at http://westernslopewatchdog.com/2012/07/fear-of-fracking-emotional-anecdotes-not-science-dominate-debate/
On July 22, 2012, AP released a news report claiming that many scientific experts believe that both opponents and supporters of fracking mislead the public with simplistic, unsubstantiated claims.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://bigstory.ap.org/article/experts-some-fracking-critics-use-bad-science
Friends of the Earth Melbourne is a lobby group opposed to the production of coal seam gas. The group has an Internet site on which it publishes regular updates of coal seam gas developments in Victoria and gives background information on the industry.
The site can be accessed at http://www.melbourne.foe.org.au/?q=node/908
On August 24, 2012, ABC News carried a report of the Victorian government's decision to impose a moratorium on further coal seam gas development in the state pending the federal government's release of guidelines for the industry.
A transcript of this report can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-24/government-expected-to-announce-fracking-moratorium/4220040
On August 24, Australian Mining published a news report titled, 'Victoria bans fracking'. The report includes comment critical of the ban currently imposed in New South Wales and supportive of the policies adopted in Queensland.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/victoria-bans-fracking
On August 24, 2012, Channel Nine News carried a report detail the support of farmers and conservation groups for the Victorian government's moratorium on fracking.
A full transcript of this report can be accessed at http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8521496
On September 5, 2012, Mining Australia carried a report of the CSIRO's rejection of a claim made by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association that CSIRO research shows no connection between coal seam gas extraction and groundwater contamination.
The full text of this article can be found at http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/csiro-rejects-appea-claims
