Is your opposition to fracking based upon the notion that companies will ignore their own basic safety procedures and contaminate ground water aquifers?

My understanding is that fracking occurs at a level far below ground water aquifers, and so long as this separation is maintained, there is no chance of contamination below ground.

The danger of above ground spills would be very low, and if they ever did occur, I imagine it would be very localised and unlikely to spread outside the immediate spill area, which would make cleanup relatively straight forward.

Are there other issues you consider untenable, that does not go against current scientific understanding of the process?

If you're talking about BTEX getting into aquifers, there is actually much more chance of this occurring naturally through fissures. Associated gas contains these substances.

OK, this is an industry site, but it's probably worth reading both sides of the argument before coming to a conclusion:

http://www.appea.com.au/oil-gas-explained/mythbusting/

I won't say much else on the subject, because whatever I say, people will regard it as biased. If you do have any questions, I will try to answer.

To start with, it's much more tightly regulated in Australia than it is in the US.

BTEX is Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene and Xylenes.

Those substances are components of petrol and diesel. Both diesel, and diesel exhaust are both carcinogens. You knew that though?

Again, it's an emotive issue. I can't really go into any depth with this other that to say that I saw the extremely detailed record keeping required only yesterday, and that it goes far beyond mere regulatory compliance.