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Victoria's premier has launched a broadside at the federal resources minister for suggesting the state should look at lifting moratoria on some of its gas fields.
US energy giant ExxonMobil has warned Victoria's Gippsland Basin gas fields will fall from 68 wells to 36 by 2024, prompting Resources Minister Madeleine King to highlight the need to shore up energy supplies.
In response, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews directed Ms King to a report from the state's chief scientist that found there are no known or probable onshore reserves in the state that can be conventionally extracted.
"If you want us to frack the place, no, that's not happening. That is not happening and we couldn't have been clearer," Mr Andrews told reporters on Wednesday.
"We export 70 per cent of our gas and it's not for me to give advice to minister King but if I can politely as possible perhaps suggest to her that a national domestic gas reserve would be what we need."
In 2017, the Victorian government permanently banned fracking and coal seam gas extraction and placed a legislative moratorium on exploration and development of onshore gas reserves.
Ms King said ExxonMobil was right to highlight depleting reserves in the Bass Strait and the Albanese government would work with Victoria to extend permits for other sites in the Otway basin.
"It's really up to the Victorian government to decide how they will pursue energy security for manufacturing and domestic consumers ... but they've clearly got a challenge, as has New South Wales," she told ABC Radio National.
