Dayne Pratzky is an Australian anti-fracking activist known colloquially as the Frackman. He is also the subject of a 2015 feature-length documentary film of the same name produced by Smith & Nasht.[1]
A former tunnel-digger and resident of Sydney, Pratzky moved to Queensland in his thirties. He describes himself as an "accidental" activist who only started campaigning against fracking after seeing the encroachment of the coal seam gas industry on rural farming communities. Pratsky is not affiliated with any political party and has said that he will work with anyone who gets results.[2]
Pratzky believes that the unconventional gas industry puts clean air and water resources in Australia at risk, and argues that exporting gas puts upwards pressure on domestic gas prices. He also believes that employment opportunities have been overstated by the industry and by Government and that payments made to landholders have not been equitable, given that affected properties have in some cases been rendered unsaleable.[2]