THE Victorian Government is "running scared" of coal seam gas (CSG) decisions by developing policy on the run, the Opposition says.
Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D'Ambrosio said the government's "knee-jerk" move to suspend onshore gas exploration work plans was "to get over the speed hump of the November election".
"There are serious community concerns from all walks of life about the safety of CSG exploration and extraction which requires a full and frank inquiry," she said.
Ms D'Ambrosio said the Gas Market Taskforce - hand-picked by the former Baillieu government in December 2012 to investigate environmental impacts of gas extraction, or fracking - was "stacked" with people supportive of CSG.
The taskforce's report, delivered to the government late last year, recommended lifting the State's moratorium on fracking.
"The government was hoping for a quick and dirty taskforce process with no genuine community or consumer advocacy involvement," she said.
Ms D'Ambrosio provided Stock & Land with freedom-of-information documents that showed Angus Taylor, formerly of Port Jackson Partners, now a Liberal MP in NSW, and six other members representing large energy companies formed the taskforce headed by former Howard government minister Peter Reith.
"The actual makeup of the taskforce raised some concerns," said Ms D'Ambrosio, who added the Labor party's CSG policy would be guided by scientific evidence and community consultation.
Minister for Energy and Resources Russell Northe described the Opposition as "hypocrites" after allocating 73 licenses for onshore gas exploration and approving 23 fracking operations when it was in government.
Mr Northe said as onshore exploration licenses had already been granted "it wouldn't have been wise" to grant work applications to gas companies before community consultation had taken place.
And while he admitted some regional Victorians could be dismissive of the consultation process, it was important to hear their views.
"In some cases I'm aware of misinformation being provided to community members and landowners," he said.
The government will use feedback from information sessions in Gippsland and Western Victoria this month alongside extensive water studies by Geoscience Australia to inform its position, he said.
"We don't want to rush into an industry that may have an impact on agricultural and regional communities," he said.
"We're hastening slowly and make no apologies for that."
Mr Northe expected results from the water studies and community meetings in the first half of 2015, which could coincide with the expiry of Victoria's moratorium on CSG in July next year.
Haywood prime lamb producer Gary Everett urged both parties to develop a clear, long-term stance on unconventional gas exploration before the November election. "We'd like to see a ban on it for at least another term of government, if not a total ban," he said.
"Farmers are concerned, irrigators are concerned with water pollution as are local community which rely on bore water."
Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) member Mr Everett criticised his organisation for being ill-informed on the issue.
"The VFF needs to be aware that a lot of farmers are unhappy with the current policy they have," he said.
Mr Everett said as unconventional exploration, such as tight and shale gas, came under the Petroleum Act, the VFF, had no policy for affected farmers.
"They (VFF) believe mining and farming can coexist but unconventional gas and farming can't," he said.
The VFF's Mining and Petroleum Policy Principles states farmers should hold the right of veto over mining and petroleum activities on their land.
The Western District farmer has submitted a resolution that the VFF call on the government to ban all forms unconventional gas exploration (CSG, tight and shale) in Victoria to be addressed at the lobby group's annual conference on June 12 and 13.