Antinuclear

The Victorian MP maintained his stance against the moratorium this week, leading environmental critics to say he was out of step with the rest of the state — and his Victorian Coalition colleagues.

The State Government is preparing to release its gas policy, expected before parliament resumes on August 16. The Victorian Coalition has ­already said it wants the moratorium extended until 2020.

Mr Frydenberg first flagged his concern about Victoria‘s moratorium in February when he was resources and energy minister.

This week he said the shift away from coal was not a bad thing, but the South Australian energy crisis proved there was a need for a reliable base power source, which should be gas.

“We shouldn’t have blanket moratoriums on unconventional gas like we have in Victoria and NSW because you need more gas and gas suppliers,” he told the Australian ­Financial Review.

Friends of the Earth’s Cam Walker said this was “profoundly out of step” with Victoria, where 73 communities have declared themselves gas field-free, many in Coalition-held seats. “The argument that gas is a bridging and back-up fuel is outdated,” he said.