Fortunately for the petroleum industry, an important sector for the long-struggling South Australian economy, there is a lack of numbers behind the push.

“The inquiry, which the Labor Party will not support, looks doomed to fail because it needs two independents, and Liberal defector Martin Hamilton-Smith has flagged his intentions not to support his former party,”The Australian reported.

Yet the news was troubling for the mild-mannered Nelson.

Beach has been fraccing with environmental consent in the state for more than two decades.

“It very frustrating, your personal integrity feels challenged,” he told the newspaper.

“It comes down to openness and transparency and they’ve lived with it already happening for 25 years.”

Nelsons reportedly said there was no need for an inquiry because other states’ work and CSIRO studies had found that fraccing provided no risk to underground water tables or agricultural industries.

“Any inquiry we’d co-operate with, but it’s going to take up resources and time,” Nelson told the newspaper.

“Of even greater concern is that I deal with institutional investors and the common theme I hear is the negative reporting coming out of Australia is deterring investors.”