WA Labour leader ruffles industry feathers with fracking ban proposal

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (Appea) has condemned comments by Western Australian Labour leader Marc McGowen that he will ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking) across large parts of the state should he win state elections next year. Citing the unique natural environment, high population density, land use patterns and deep aquifers in the South West, Peel region and the Perth metropolitan, McGowan said on Wednesday the Labour party would ban fracking as it posed an “unacceptable risk” to the farming and tourism industries in the area.