Mineral Resources Legislation (Ban on Fracking) Bill 2026

[Bill 4]-VI TASMANIA

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MINERAL RESOURCES LEGISLATION (BAN ON FRACKING) BILL 2026

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CONTENTS

1. Short title
2. Commencement
3. Principal Act
4. Section 7A inserted 7A. Application of Act to certain activities
5. Repeal of Act

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[Bill 4] 3 MINERAL RESOURCES LEGISLATION (BAN ON FRACKING) BILL 2026 (Brought in by Tabatha Anne Badger, MP) A BILL FOR An Act to amend the Mineral Resources Development Act 1995 Be it enacted by Her Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, in Parliament assembled, as follows:

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mineral Resources Legislation (Ban on Fracking) Act 2026.
2. Commencement This Act commences on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.
3. Principal Act In this Act, the Mineral Resources Development Act 1995* is referred to as the Principal Act.

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*No. 116 of 1995

Mineral Resources Legislation (Ban on Fracking) Act 2026 Act No. of 2026 s. 4 4 4. Section 7A inserted After section 7 of the Principal Act, the following section is inserted in Part 1: 7A. Application of Act to certain activities (1) In this section – hydraulic fracturing includes – (a) the process of injecting a substance, including water, into a bore under pressure for the purposes of stimulating a geological formation; and (b) a process that is prescribed as hydraulic fracturing for the purposes of this definition; mining authorisation includes – (a) a lease; and (b) a licence; and (c) an authorisation under this Act to undertake mining, investigation or research. (2) A mining authorisation under this Act does not authorise a person to undertake hydraulic fracturing while carrying out

Mineral Resources Legislation (Ban on Fracking) Act 2026 Act No. of 2026 s. 5 5 an activity, other than producing geothermal energy, under the authority of the mining authorisation. (3) A term or condition of a mining authorisation is void to the extent that the term or condition – (a) allows, permits or approves the undertaking of hydraulic fracturing while carrying out an activity, other than producing geothermal energy, under the authority of the mining authorisation; or (b) purports to allow, permit or approve the undertaking of hydraulic fracturing while carrying out an activity, other than producing geothermal energy, under the authority of the mining authorisation. (4) For the avoidance of doubt, this section applies to a mining authorisation regardless of whether the mining authorisation was issued, granted or given before or after the commencement of this section. 5. Repeal of Act This Act is repealed on the first anniversary of the day on which this Act commenced. Government Printer, Tasmania