This week Independent MLC Mike Gaffney called for the state government to hold an inquiry into fracking and other gas exploration.

Mr Gaffney said the government should not “sit back on and wait” for the moratorium decision in 2020 to roll around before reviewing the issue.

Farmers’ Association chief executive Peter Skillern agreed the issue should be discussed before 2020 – but said it was difficult to back an inquiry without knowing the terms of reference. 

“I think it is of value to start doing some research into it but we certainly wouldn’t be calling for an early cessation to that moratorium – not at all,” he said. 

“Prior to that expiry date for the moratorium there would be some value in having a better understanding of our groundwater resources and potentially gas resources

“There is some value in having a better understanding of those two elements.”

While many Australians question the safety of fracking, Mr Skillern questioned if that could occur in Tasmania.

“The geological makeup of Tasmania is somewhat different to mainland Australia and as a result, fracking as it’s been referred to in mainland Australia is not the sort of process that would work in Tasmania,” he said. 

Mr Skillern said gas exploration provided a heated discussion when it was a “live issue”.

“Three years ago it was very clear many of our members had major concerns about the potential of this occurring on their land,” he said.

On Tuesday a government spokeswoman said there were “no plans” to consider the moratorium.