MEMBER for Stuart Dan van Holst Pellekaan says one of his top priorities as the new Energy and Mining Minister is to ensure a moratorium on fracking in the South East was in place as soon as possible.
“We have a very clear policy to introduce a 10-year moratorium against fracking in the SE, and we will do that as soon as possible,” he said.
“I’m still investigating the best way to make that happen but it is a very high priority and will happen extremely quickly.”
As part of Premier Steven Marshall’s election pledge, the party had promised to implement the moratorium in its first week in power.
Mr van Holst Pellekaan said his other main focus in his new role was finding solutions to get SA’s energy prices down.
“Getting energy prices down is a highest priority because it’s something that affects everyone in SA, from the smallest household to the largest business,” he said.
“Something must happen to bring prices down without sacrificing reliability or environmental objectives.”
Mr van Holst Pellekaan felt he was in a good position to work with all vested interests to improve the land access framework for mining companies coming onto farming land.
“I want to ensure all people who have a connection to energy and mining have a fair say,” he said.
