Lawler and order: Business the key to improving the Territory

The new chief minister is putting faith in growing the economy to tackle issues around crime and social disadvantage. Read what she has planned and watch the interview.

New Territory chief minister Eva Lawler has promised to stare down anti-fossil fuel campaigners and continue with the Labor government’s pro-development agenda.

During her first sit-down interview as the Territory’s new chief minister, Ms Lawler told Sky News’ Matt Cunningham that a strong economy generating own source revenue would help resolve multiple issues hurting the Territory including crime and social disadvantage.

“I’m the biggest supporter of the onshore oil and gas industry and have been from day one,” Ms Lawler said.

“In the Northern Territory our Labor Government is supportive of an onshore oil and gas industry because I can see the benefit. You can’t say you want new schools, you want better hospitals, if you don’t have your own source revenue.

Eva Lawler at the swearing-in ceremony at Government House. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“We’re reliant on GST coming from Canberra. As Treasurer, that can be really quite volatile and we’ve been fortunate in the last couple of budgets where it’s been higher but when Nicole Manison was Treasurer, it dropped.”

Ms Lawler also publicly committed her support to Santos’ $6bn Barossa gas project, which has been stalled in the courts by traditional owners with cultural and consultation concerns.

“We need the Barossa project to go ahead but that’s one of the key things if you’re doing business in the Northern Territory,” she said.

“Around the world you need to work with environmentalists, in the Territory you also need to work with traditional owners.

“Did Santos get that right early on? Maybe they didn’t but I know they’re working very hard on that project now. We do need to have that project for the Northern Territory.”

She said she would speak at next year’s Senate inquiry into the Middle Arm sustainable development precinct, which could deliver 20,000 jobs to the NT.

“You can’t have no gas in the world right now and just have renewables. That is an absolute fact. If we’re going to have an onshore oil and gas industry it has to be monitored very tightly.”

Northern Territory Director of the Australian Energy Producers David Slama.

Her response would have encouraged association body Australian Energy Producers, which this week urged Ms Lawler to retain pro-gas policies.

NT director David Slama said onshore gas developments at Beetaloo and Middle Arm would be economically significant.

“The Beetaloo is one of Australia’s most exciting new prospects for gas supply, delivering extraordinary economic benefits and boosting energy security for the NT and east coast energy market,” Mr Slama said.

“Middle Arm is a low-carbon energy and industrial hub that will accelerate emissions reduction and attract regional investment. The NT Government itself has previously identified a potential $17bn contribution to the Australian economy from Middle Arm’s gas manufacturing activities alone.”

In comparison, Ms Lawler’s stance likely drew the ire of Environment Centre NT which called for the abandonment of the Middle Arm precinct in the wake of Natasha Fyles’ resignation.

Kirsty Howey of Environment Centre NT said all politicians in the Northern Territory were ‘on notice’ and called for a root and branch review of the influence of big business on politics.

“The Middle Arm gas hub is completely untenable in light of the damning revelations of the past few weeks,” she said.

“Scandal after scandal has plagued this project, and it’s well past time for the Northern

Territory Government to abandon it once and for all.

“We look forward to close scrutiny during the Middle Arm Senate Inquiry about the links between the Northern Territory Government and the gas industry.”

Ms Lawler praised the work of outgoing Mining Minister Nicole Manison.

“Creating jobs and growing our economy is the main focus of my Government, she told the NT News. “We will continue to make sure we support proactive development which respects our environment and supports Territorians.

“Nicole Manison has done a lot in this space, and the momentum will not stop, I can promise industry that.”