More than 23,000 petitions and postcards from voters calling for a ban on fracking in the Kimberley have been handed over to Premier Roger Cook and Minister Simone McGurk in Fremantle.

“The Kimberley is known for its world class landscapes, intact nature and ancient culture; to allow fracking here would be a disaster,” Environs Kimberley Executive Director Martin Pritchard said.

More than 23,000 voices, one clear message: ban fracking in the Kimberley.

“And Fremantle locals know it. It’s why they’ve been volunteering in droves to put up yard signs committing to vote for a candidate who will ban fracking, attending local events, and reaching out to their friends and neighbours asking them to join the momentum," he said.

“The only people who support fracking are the gas companies chasing bigger profits. Those who know about the toxic pollution and damaging production methods are completely opposed.

“This 23,000 signature petition is a powerful message to the Cook government and the Minister for Water, Simone McGurk that people want fracking banned in the Kimberley like it is in the southwest of Western Australia.”

Fremantle locals know fracking Kimberley would be disastrous.

Lock the Gate Alliance spokesperson Claire McKinnon said: “We’re ramping up the pressure of our community campaign – that's driven by hundreds of Freo locals – calling on Simone McGurk to ban fracking in the Kimberley in the leadup to the WA election.

“These 23,000 petitions, plus our door to door and community event surveys have revealed without a doubt that Fremantle constituents want their local MP Simone McGurk to ban fracking in the Kimberley – and they’re willing to switch their votes over it," she said.

“Fracking, which requires a toxic cocktail of dangerous chemicals and huge volumes of water, poses a major threat to the Kimberley’s communities and its unique environment.

“WA Labor was right to ban fracking across the south west of the state, but leaving the Kimberley at risk exposed a double standard. This must be fixed.” 

You can send a message asking Premier Cook to ban fracking in the Kimberley here. 

Photos: John Reed.

The Cook government is meeting in Albany this week and will be discussing the WA carbon emissions policy which is the weakest of any jurisdiction in the country after the Northern Territory.

Community members and environment groups are calling on the Cook government to ban fracking in the Kimberley to match the 2018 McGowan government ban on fracking in the South West.

“The McGowan government banned fracking in the South West, correctly stating it wasn’t an appropriate industry for the region given how invasive and polluting gasfields are. Fracking in the Kimberley would be even more disastrous and the Cook government can instigate a ban at the strike of a pen with no cost to taxpayers and a huge saving in preventing massive carbon emissions,” said Environs Kimberley Director of Strategy Martin Pritchard.

“A plan by Texan company Black Mountain Energy to frack an initial 20 wells in the Kimberley is being assessed by the EPA. Over 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 would be released if approved and hundreds more wells would be required to make it financially viable.

“We’re already feeling the impacts of climate change in the Kimberley, with record floods and heatwaves, and fracking the Kimberley would add a significant amount of climate polluting emissions.

“The Cook government has an opportunity and responsibility to prevent a huge amount of carbon emissions from fuelling climate change by banning fracking in the Kimberley. We’re keen to hear a statement about this from the Albany meeting,” said Mr Pritchard.