Central Australian Frack Free Alliance celebrates 10 years fighting fracking in Alice Springs

A coalition of anti-frackers have made their viewpoint clear at an event celebrating a decade of resistance to the practice – with one elder saying ‘take your fracking and frack off’.

Arid Lands Environment Centre fracking campaigner Hannah Ekin at the Central Australian Frack Free Alliance anti-fracking gathering in Alice Springs Sunday, July 21, 2024.

Anti-frackers have congregated in the Red Centre to celebrate a milestone moment in their fight against the controversial mining practice – telling those behind the practice to “frack off”.

Members and allies from the Central Australian Frack Free Alliance descended on the Alice Springs Town Council lawns Sunday afternoon to celebrate a decade of anti-fracking campaigning.

Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves.

The three hour event – billed as an anti-fracking gathering – featured speeches from elders, budding politicians, and activists.

Speakers included Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, Arid Lands Environment Centre fracking campaigner Hannah Ekin, Central Australian Frack Free Alliance Hilary Tyler and NT Greens candidate for Braitling Asta Hill.

Elder Mr Hargraves didn’t mince his words when he gave his opinion on the practice, stating “take your fracking, and frack off”.

“We don’t want fracking in the NT. If you want fracking, go do it in your backyard,” he said.

“Our land, our Tjukurrpa is going to be destroyed by these people who want to frack.”

Fracking campaigner Ms Ekin said she was proud of the collective efforts to stop fracking in the Territory.

“Ten years into the campaign fracking companies continue to struggle to get the industry off the ground,” she said.

“It’s hard enough to get a dirty fracking industry off the ground, and with the strong resistance from traditional owners and communities across the NT this industry is bound to fail.”