Anti-frackers vow fight if WA ban lifted

There is speculation the WA government is poised to allow fracking in the state's north but a Labor MP says he's confident the premier will "get this right".

Fracking opponents have vowed to step up protests against the unconventional gas production practice in WA after a media report suggested the McGowan government is set to lift a statewide moratorium.

The state government last year banned fracking in the South West, Peel and Perth regions, and implemented the moratorium while a scientific inquiry, chaired by Tom Hatton, was conducted.

It has received the results and is yet to announce its position, but a News Corp report on Sunday cited Labor insiders as saying it was "almost certain" fracking would be allowed in WA's north.

Agricultural region MP and farmer Darren West, who is opposed to fracking, said that was mere speculation.

"I'm comfortable the premier will get this right," Mr West told AAP on Monday.

"If it was up to me and only up to me, I'd say to unconventional gas 'we can manage fine without you' but I'm not the only view.

"Anything that we come up with here is better than the previous government's policy, which was just a free-for-all. We've come a long way."

Mr West said farmers in areas with good groundwater were very concerned about fracking, and in Wheatbelt towns such as Moora, 97 per cent were against it.

Lock the Gate spokeswoman Jane Hammond said the group's Labor and union sources had not tipped the moratorium being lifted.

"The latest intel looks like it is going the other way," Ms Hammond told AAP.

Lock the Gate and Frack Free WA plan a snap rally outside parliament later on Monday after MPs, including Mr West, are briefed by Dr Hatton.

Ms Hammond said the groups would be "louder than ever" if cabinet gives fracking the go-ahead.


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Source: AAP


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