Barnaby Joyce, a One Nation MP, defended his party's new policy to ban fracking for gas and oil in South Australia during a Sky News interview [1].

The policy creates a tension between environmental protections and resource extraction, highlighting the ongoing legal struggle over whether state or federal governments hold primary authority over natural resources.

During the segment, host Andrew Bolt questioned Joyce on the specifics of the ban and how it aligns with the party's broader energy goals [1]. Joyce focused on the location of the drilling, noting that the policy is driven by the impact on the land [1]. "First of all, it’s on agricultural land, it’s …" Joyce said [1].

A central point of the discussion involved the distinction between onshore and offshore resources. Joyce argued that the party's approach distinguishes between the powers of the state and the Commonwealth [1]. He explained that certain resource decisions are not within the jurisdiction of the state parliament [1].

"We are talking about a Commonwealth policy, Commonwealth policy starts off the coast, we are not within the realms of the state," Joyce said [1].

However, Joyce also acknowledged the rights of states to manage their own internal assets [1]. This creates a nuanced position where One Nation seeks to limit fracking on land, while recognizing the legal framework of resource ownership [1].

"The state owns state resources, and the State parliament will have state debates about state resources," Joyce said [1].

The interview underscores the complexities of Australian federalism, specifically regarding how the Commonwealth interacts with state-owned assets in the southeast region of South Australia [1, 2].

“"The state owns state resources, and the State parliament will have state debates about state resources."”

This policy shift reflects a strategic attempt by One Nation to align with agricultural interests by protecting farmland from fracking. By emphasizing the distinction between Commonwealth offshore jurisdiction and state onshore ownership, the party is navigating the complex legal boundaries of the Australian constitution to justify a regional ban without contradicting its broader stance on resource sovereignty.