The Australian state of Victoria has extended its moratorium on onshore coal seam gas production and ban on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, until at least July 2015 while it conducts a community consultation process. Victorian Premier Denis Napthine announced his decision Thursday, in tandem with the release of the Gas Market Taskforce report, which was submitted to the government three weeks ago. The premier said earlier this month that he would not be rushed into making a decision. “There is no hurry … the gas has been in the ground onshore for tens of thousands of years. It’ll be there for some time yet,” he said. The report was commissioned by Napthine’s predecessor, Ted Baillieu, in January. The taskforce, chaired by former Federal Minister Peter Reith, in its report recommended that Victoria encourage the development of onshore gas projects and that fracking be allowed. […]