Purcell’s bold proposal on gas

Legislation banning fracking introduced to parliament last November – which Mr Purcell supports – is due to reach the upper house sometime over the next few weeks.

However, the Vote 1 Local Jobs MP plans to propose an amendment to the legislation to prevent it from also banning conventional onshore gas exploration until 2020.

The radical part of Mr Purcell’s proposal is that he only wants to allow conventional onshore gas exploration if the industry is entirely state-owned and operated.

“The theory behind this concept is for the Victorian government to take control of Victoria’s gas industry and create a 100 per cent government owned Victoria Gas Corporation (VicGas) to explore and produce gas,” Mr Purcell said.

“This would allow the government to provide gas to the state at prices less than seen now and build a gas-fired power plant in Portland over the next four years to secure the future of Alcoa ..."

Mr Purcell said the establishment of a gas-fired plant in Portland would allow other energy-intensive industries to develop in the city, including paper and panel board manufacturing and wool processing.

Northern Victoria MP Daniel Young, who represents the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, has announced his intention to introduce an amendment to allow conventional onshore gas exploration as well.

However, Mr Young’s proposal would allow a commercial industry.

Mr Purcell said he would not support Mr Young’s proposal seeing as natural gas was an asset belonging to the state.

“I can’t for the life of me see why we would allow major companies to sell it off overseas for a pittance,” he said.

“I would restrict its use in Victoria for power generation and cheaper gas in households.”

The Coalition have not yet indicated their position on either amendment to the fracking bill, and the Victorian Greens support the bill in its current form.