WA Labor has been accused of electioneering over its policy to ban fracking in Western Australia's South West.

Labor leader Mark McGowan has visited the town of Capel to declare the Perth, Peel and South West regions "frack-free zones", saying the hydraulic fracturing procedure for gas extraction presented an unacceptable risk to farming, tourism and biodiversity.

The prospect of fracking has fostered vigorous debate in the South West, with the launch of numerous high-profile campaigns questioning the safety of the practice.

However, Vasse MP and State Government whip Libby Mettam has poured cold water on a Labor proposal to ban fracking, calling it a "meaningless" policy announcement.

"This is a bit of a joke, a fracking ban for a region which has no potential for fracking," she said.

"It is feeding a fear in the community that is not based on any facts at all. It would be like me coming out and saying 'let's ban uranium mining in the South West'.

"It's ridiculous and illogical and it will have no impact on any project or any proposal in the region."

Mr McGowan has accused resource companies Cal Energy and Bunbury Energy of "galling" plans to frack for gas in the region.

Both companies and the Department of Mines and Petroleum have categorically ruled out any intention to frack.

But Mr McGowan said fracking by another company on the Whicher Range in 2004 showed it could happen again.

"Companies might now say that they don't intend to do that in the future, but past performance is a good indication of future action," he said.

"The future of the South West is largely around making sure tourism is promoted as well as agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, all sorts of farming including beef, fruit and dairy.

"So, it's very important that we send a clear message that fracking is inappropriate in these regions."

WA Labor has previously called for a statewide freeze on fracking until more scientific research was conducted to determine its impact.

'A short-sighted political ploy': CME

However, Labor's policy has also been shot down by industry groups including the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME).

Mark McGowan (c) announced the policy with Labor MPs Sally Talbot and Mick Murray. ( ABC News: Roxanne Taylor )

CME natural resources manager Kane Moyle accused the Opposition of political point scoring after the policy was announced in the Collie-Preston electorate, one of Labor's tightest marginal seats.

"It's a short-sighted political ploy to silence the activists in the region [and one that] threatens future jobs and economic development in that area," Mr Moyle said.

"Each onshore gas proposal should be judged on their individual merits.

"Blanket bans over specific areas of the state discourage investment."

Mr Moyle said a 2015 parliamentary inquiry that found there was a "negligible" risk of fracking impacting underground aquifers, and increasing seismic activity was evidence enough that a ban was not necessary.

"It gave significant evidence to suggest that the current environmental issues can be managed through our regulatory framework," he said.

"I think [Labor is] listening to the activists and not what is good policy or good science."

Proposed ban should be extended: Greens

The WA Greens called the policy "spineless" and said it did not go far enough.

Mining and Pastoral region MLC Robin Chapple said the proposed ban should be extended to onshore gas tenements in the Mid West, Pilbara and Kimberley.

"Up until last week (Labor's) policy was to impose a state-wide moratorium on all fracking operations and exploration until a public inquiry could be held," he said.

"Their new position seems to suggest that this is no longer necessary for most of the state, and is a compromise that we find untenable.

"It should be a no-brainer to expand this policy to include those other regions where the majority of exploration tenements lie."