Iconic multi-award winning Western Australian author Tim Winton has joined with Frack Free Future to highlight the risks of gas fracking in the lead up to the State election.

The Beeliar Group of professors has recently formed in response to their concern about the ongoing destruction of the Beeliar Wetlands by the State Government.

WA has a history of political parties and conservative leaders badly misjudging the mood of the electorate on environmental issues, including at election time. It happened in 2001 when the Gallop Labor Government was elected on the back of the campaign to stop logging of ancient forests in the South West. Since then, major environmental campaigns including the James Price Point LNG development in the Kimberley, and the culling of sharks have wrong-footed Premier Barnett.  Right now it is happening again with the Roe 8 highway, gas fracking, climate change, and a range of other local issues resulting from poor environmental decisions by a Government that has failed to consult, engage, or understand the communities they affect.

Western Australia’s peak environment group has warned that the Liberal party’s attack on renewable energy - involving full page ads in community newspapers and ‘robo-calls’ to voters in marginal seats - is a cynical and desperate campaign tactic that will backfire on the party.

The RenewWA alliance, Conservation Council of WA, and Curtin University will hold a public forum this evening with international renewable energy and new industry development expert Professor Peter Droege, to discuss the potential for Western Australia and the town of Collie to transition from reliance on coal and gas towards a renewable energy future.

An internationally renowned health academic is to argue for a cessation of the unconventional gas and fracking industry until risks to public health and environment can be proven not to occur. 

Households and businesses will be denied the benefits of cheaper and cleaner electricity, and the State will miss out on new jobs and investment if the next State Government does not introduce a Renewable Energy Target, according to the State’s peak environment group.

Religious leaders are uniting to warn about the dangers of fracking ahead of a public forum to be held next week at St George’s Cathedral, Perth.

We’re only a few weeks into 2017 and it’s already shaping up to be one of the most powerful years for WA’s environment yet. Find out why in your highlights below!

Dear Albert Jacob, Minister for the Environment

I draw your urgent attention to an extremely alarming situation unfolding in the Beeliar Wetlands, which concerns not only serious and ongoing non-compliance with your Ministerial Conditions for the Roe 8 toll road project, but also an unfolding animal welfare disaster, a serious threat to human health, and a total loss of faith by the community in the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) – the State’s principal environmental regulator.