Just Hot Air. We have an update to the article in the last issue on the Victorian government’s scrapping of the temporary moratorium on onshore gas drilling. 

A recent report from The Australia Institute argues that ‘analysis of the Government’s own Victorian Gas Project Progress report finds the decision is based on misleading claims that exaggerate benefits, understate costs and ignore alternatives.’ 

The Australia Institute report shows ‘critical flaws’ in the government’s calculations, namely, that they have underestimated the greenhouse gas emissions from 100 proposed onshore gas sites by a whopping 88 percent! The report claims that the data, used in the government’s press release, ignores ‘the vast majority of the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the burning of the gas’, and ignores the costeffective alternatives to gas. 

Furthermore, the report challenges the premier’s claim that 6400 new jobs will be created, arguing that this number will be somewhere between 60 and 200. Neither will new onshore gas projects reduce wholesale gas or power prices. Through its own surveys, The Australia Institute finds that only ‘nine percent of Victorians believe gas development would improve their region.’ 

A lot of people in South Gippsland fought against onshore gas and should be disappointed by the Andrews government on this issue. It should be pointed out that this decision has come after increasing pressure from the federal government. 

You can access the report here: https://www.tai.org.au/content/victoriangovernment-ignores-88-true-emissions-newonshore-gas 

David Arnault Mirboo North