Hydraulic Fracturing (‘Fracking’) for gas or oil involves pumping a cocktail of highly carcinogenic and toxic chemicals deep underground at extreme pressure in order to fracture rocks and release natural gas. Where this has occurred elsewhere in the world it has resulted in the permanent contamination of groundwater aquifers. Here in WA, the fracking industry is currently active and unregulated.

The Conservation Council is campaigning to stop this dangerous process with Lock the Gate and other organisations and local community groups. Check out the Frack Free Future campaign site.

It’s hard to believe, but the WA Environment Protection Authority has refused to assess the environmental impacts of gas fracking.

The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) is actively facilitating gas fracking. What's more, the DMP lack the necessary legal powers to enforce environmental conditions placed on fracking operations.

Our Fracking Briefing Paper details the myriad dangers of deep drilling for unconventional gas, and provides a solid introduction to some of the key terms in the current conversation.