Peak business, industry groups slam Territory Alliance backflip on fracking

TERRITORY Alliance’s Ban Fracking policy would put the creation of thousands of new jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars in work for local companies and revenues to the Territory government at risk, the peak body representing the gas industry says.

Kyalla 117, located 600km southeast of Darwin, between Daly Waters and Elliott, is the first of two new Origin Energy appraisal wells to be drilled and fracture stimulated to help determine the potential of the resource in the Beetaloo Basin. Picture: Supplied

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• Territory Alliance backflips and pledges to ban fracking if elected

TERRITORY Alliance’s Ban Fracking policy would put the creation of thousands of new jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars in work for local companies and revenues to the Territory government at risk, the peak body representing the gas industry says.

APPEA Northern Territory director Keld Knudsen said the Territory Alliance policy also disrespected the consent and rights of Native Title holders, who support onshore gas development and put at risk their existing and future benefits and opportunities.

“We are keen to understand how and why Mr Mills’ view has changed,” Mr Knudsen said.

“The backflip is staggering given Mr Mills said in January: ‘If onshore gas is a viable industry in every way, then we should welcome it as a part of our economy. To do otherwise would send a message of uncertainty and governmental incompetence to all businesses right at the time when the NT is most in need of additional business investment.’

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Territory Alliance Leader Terry Mills has also alienated himself with the peak body representing Northern Territory business, which was blindsided by his shock policy announcement.

Mr Knudsen said APPEA’s members stood ready to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in to exploring the NT’s natural gas reserves, and if exploration is successful, there would be many times that spent in bringing these anticipated projects to full production.

“This is exactly the sort of uncertain messaging that drives investors away right at the time when the NT is most in need of additional business investment,” he said.

“The broader business community should be rightly concerned about the uncertainty that policies like these create for private investment in any industry in the Territory.

“Successful exploration, appraisal and development of the Northern Territory’s natural gas resources could provide significant benefits including jobs, local business opportunities, new value-adding industries, infrastructure and community investment for decades to come.”

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The Chamber of Commerce NT says it does not support the Territory Alliance policy on hydraulic fracturing because it did not seem to take into account the evidence or logic that has been comprehensively considered by the Pepper Inquiry, the NT Government’s inquiry into fracking.

“This is a major concern for Territory business and sends mixed messages from a party that puts itself forward as an alternative government,” Chamber chief executive Greg Ireland said.

Master Builders NT was also left shaking its head.

“We are in the middle of an economic crisis and we are going to have to find a way to rebuild our economy,” chief executive David Malone said.

“We should not be taking anything that achieves that off the table. An onshore gas industry has many downstream benefits.”