THE state government, Beach Energy, Santos and the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy have launched separate attacks on the SA Liberal Party for attempting to establish a select committee inquiry into unconventional gas mining in the South East.
They also used the opportunity to defend the fracking process, and reiterate their beliefs in the value and importance of mining - and the environmental standards used to regulate the industry.
Beach Energy managing director Reg Nelson said the move by the Liberals to establish a select committee to investigate "a long-standing, proven and tested practice to extract gas" had put future investment in the state at risk.
Santos' vice-president eastern Australia James Baulderstone also hit out at the Liberals, saying they were ignoring the company's long track record of safe operations in SA.
"The state's gas industry has been built on strong bipartisan political support which, in turn, has given investors confidence to invest in this state," he said.
Chief executive of SACOME Jason Kuchel said his organisation was concerned that anti-fossil fuel campaigners would damage the reputation of the SE and hurt the agricultural sector for its own ends while playing on the fears of residents - particularly farmers - who faced enough stress in their daily lives.
Mr Nelson said the real issue at stake had been largely overlooked.
"There is a critical shortage of gas on the eastern states that will flow onto SA if we do not develop our own gas supplies," he said.
"These shortages could result in the state sourcing gas from offshore Vic, which could cost the consumer more.
"Alternatively, we may be forced to rely even more on interstate connectors which potentially could result in power outages for consumers and business."
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the Liberal Party was turning its back on the resources industry and singled out Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell and his leader Steven Marshall for a dressing-down.
He said they wanted to turn their backs on an industry that employed "thousands of South Australians and invests billions of dollars in our state".
"Steven Marshall either doesn't value the sector or can't stand up to those in the Liberal Party pulling on his puppet strings," he said.
"(We) will not go down the path of the Vic and NSW conservative governments who have shut their doors to the oil and gas industry."
* Full report in Stock Journal, November 13, 2014 issue.
