Labor says it will tighten CSG regulations to protect water resources, if elected.

Shadow environment minister Tony Burke says the ALP, if it wins the next federal election, would broaden the “water trigger” to include other forms of unconventional gas extraction.

The water trigger is used to assesses water resources for their national significance in relation to coal seam gas and coal mining.

This means that the extraction of other fossil fuels is not covered by the legislation.

“Anyone from an environmentalist through to a local farmer can see that that’s a glaring omission,” Mr Burke said.

“Underground hydrology is incredibly complex, and you really need to have a robust scientific process to understand what the impacts might be.

“It could be that it all stacks up, but at the moment, without the water trigger being extended, those checks to see what the impacts are simply aren’t being done at a national level.”