Fracking is illegal and conventional onshore gas is banned in Victoria until at June 2020.

Legislation passed State Parliament this week to make Victoria the first Australian state to ban hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) for unconventional gas.

“This is a historic day for our state,” Resources Minister Wade Noonan said.

“This is a win for people power and regional communities across Victoria who have campaigned for years to see this ban in place.”

Conservationists took it well.

“Community actually wins — WTF?!” Lock the Gate campaigner Chloe Aldenhoven said.

When the legislation came to the Upper House, the Coalition sought to change the bill to remove the conventional gas moratorium, include a right-to-veto clause (to appease the Nationals), and reserve gas produced in Victoria for use in the state.

The amendments were defeated 18-20 after MPs from the Sex Party, Greens and Vote 1 Local Jobs voted with the Government.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) welcomed the new laws, but would have liked the failed amendments.

“It’s pleasing to see that the right to veto has been discussed and that it is on the table if the issue is revisited when the moratorium on conventional gas is revisited in 2020,” the VFF’s David Jochinke said.

The Victorian Government did commit to a $10 million geoscience of the state’s conventional gas resources before discussions in June 2020.