What is fracking?
Hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" is a method of extracting fossil fuels – primarily natural gas but also oil – from deep underground.
It involves drilling into the earth, then injecting a combination of water, sand and chemicals which breaks up the rock and allows gas or oil to flow to the surface.
Fracking is deployed in hard-to-reach "unconventional gas extraction" projects.
The method is occasionally used to extract gas from coal seam deposits and always used to extract gas from shale deposits (which are deeper underground).
It's existed since the mid-20th century but has only become widespread internationally over the last decade due to better drilling technology.
Is there fracking in Australia?
Fracking has been used around Australia but current regulations are uneven and inconsistent in each state and territory.
Last year, Victoria became the first state to permanently ban fracking on land (or onshore), in what then-Minister for Resources Wade Noonan called "a historic day for our state".
There are moratoriums on fracking in Tasmania and Western Australia, while New South Wales has applied certain restrictions on fracking.
The new South Australian Liberal government is planning a 10-year ban on fracking in much of the state's south-east.
Queensland more broadly allows the practice and the Northern Territory announced on 17 April its ban on fracking will be lifted.
TBut other countries and jurisdictions have been far more hesitant around fracking – it is banned in many places including New Zealand, Germany, France and Spain.
Following a recent fracking ban in Scotland, US senator and 2016 presidential contender Bernie Sanders called on his country to follow suit. He posted on Facebook: "Congratulations to Scotland for taking the very significant step to ban fracking following enormous public opposition to the practice".
he federal government is pushing for far more fracking.
"I would like all moratoriums and bans across Australia lifted, because more gas is good for jobs and it's good for energy security and supply," Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg has said.
Do other countries frack?
The US in particular has experienced a fracking boom over the past decade, with widespread use of the practice opening billions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas to production.
Time Magazine said the US adoption of fracking has meant the country "is on the verge of transforming the world's energy markets".
But other countries and jurisdictions have been far more hesitant around fracking – it is banned in many places including New Zealand, Germany, France and Spain.
Following a recent fracking ban in Scotland, US senator and 2016 presidential contender Bernie Sanders called on his country to follow suit. He posted on Facebook: "Congratulations to Scotland for taking the very significant step to ban fracking following enormous public opposition to the practice".
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