Western Australia (WA) has some of the world's largest known
reserves of gas trapped in underground rock formations. To extract
these gas reserves commercially, the technique of hydraulic
fracturing (fracking) would need to be used. Fracking is a gas
extraction technique whereby underground rock is drilled and then
pumped at high pressure with fracking fluid (a mixture of
chemicals, sand, and water) which fractures the rock and then holds
the fractures open so that the trapped gas can be released for
collection.
On 27 November 2018 the Western Australian Government (State)
lifted its moratorium on fracking in limited parts of the
Kimberley, the Gascoyne, and the mid west regions of WA. Following
a 12-month independent scientific inquiry, the State announced that
a prohibition on fracking would remain in place, except for areas
covered by existing onshore petroleum exploration permits. These
permits cover an area of approximately 2 percent of WA's total
land area and
