Australian doctors protest against Beetaloo Basin fracking at Parliament House

Doctors from around the country have demanded the federal government block key NT gas expansion projects, while the Chief Minster’s own office has also been targeted.

One of the Territory’s leading environmentalists says the anti-gas movement has “ignited into something significant”, claiming Canberra politicians are “worried” about the Territory’s gas expansion plans.

Environment Centre NT director Kirsty Howey, who travelled to Parliament House to take part in the grassroots demonstration, said she was among plenty of Territorians and other concerned Australians.

“It’s really significant that you’ve got people from all around the country, particularly doctors, gathering to oppose multiple NT gas projects,” she said.

“You only have to look at Lee Point as an example of what people are prepared to do but it feels like a line’s been drawn in the sand.

“Politicians here are listening, they’re worried, and we’re hearing that from Labor – not just the Greens and the Teals.

“They’re concerned about the electoral threat of Middle Arm, in places very far from the NT.”

Around 70 doctors converged on Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday, urging the commonwealth to withdraw its $1.5bn stake in Middle Arm.

A grassroots protest, made up of doctors, parents, vets and other Australians concerned about the NT government's gas expansion plans, hit Canberra on Tuesday. Environment Centre NT director Kirsty Howey is pictured centre right, with Darwin paediatrician Dr Louise Woodward to her right. Picture: Twitter

A grassroots protest, made up of doctors, parents, vets and other Australians concerned about the NT government's gas expansion plans, hit Canberra on Tuesday. Picture: Twitter

Protesters met with NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour in Canberra on Tuesday. Picture: Twitter

The grassroots protest, supported by Doctors for the Environment Australia, included a rally and meetings with parliamentarians in which health experts demanded the federal government put a stop to fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.

It comes after Chief Minister Natasha Fyles took aim at interstate opponents to gas production, who she labelled “Teals and trolls”, during a scathing National Press Club speech last week.

Dozens of people also protested outside Ms Fyles’ electorate office in Nightcliff on Sunday, calling for “no new gas”.

Dozens of people protested outside Chief Minister Natasha Fyles' electorate office in Nightcliff on Sunday, including Nightcliff local of 30 years Louise Brown. The group has called for the government to scrap plans to expand the gas industry. Picture: Supplied

No New Gas Coalition member Louise Brown said the opposition was led by people within the Chief Minister’s own electorate.

“We don’t want to put our future, and the futures of all kids, at risk for the sake of the gas industry,” the Nightcliff local of more than 30 years said.

The protests follow an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, which has now been signed by more than 1100 health professionals including independent Kooyong MP Monique Ryan.

Dr Ryan along with ACT Senator David Pocock and Darwin-based paediatrician Dr Louise Woodward, who drafted the letter, were among those to speak at the Canberra demonstration.

The protest also raised concerns of Santos’ plans to drill for gas in the Timor Sea, near the Tiwi Islands. Picture: Twitter

DEA executive director Dr Kate Wylie said opening up the Beetaloo would pose “a serious health threat to everyone” if its greenhouse gas emissions were not offset.

“The UN Secretary-General has warned we’re in an era of ‘global boiling’ and the International Energy Agency, the IPCC and scientists globally have warned that we cannot afford new fossil fuel projects,” she said.

“If (the) Beetaloo and Middle Arm projects go ahead, they are going to add a further load to an already overloaded health system.

“As doctors, we have a duty of care to the health of the community and urge the PM and his government to also put the health of Australians front and centre.”

Territory GP, public health physician and Doctors for the Environment Australia member Rosalie Schultz says the Chief Minister is ‘out of touch with the community’.

Alice Springs-based public health physician Rosalie Schultz said Ms Fyles’ speech last week showed she was “out of touch with the community”.

“Gas is not a transition fuel but fuelling climate catastrophe,” she said.

“Support from colleagues interstate recognises that climate change – global heating – extends far beyond (the) NT’s borders.

“We need sustainable development that will sustain human wellbeing, biodiversity and justice.”

Top End GP Brooke Ah Shay said the Territory government was failing to consider “numerous health risks”.

“Fracking pollutes the air, water and soil of nearby communities with numerous chemical contaminants and is associated with an increased risk of many serious health problems, including asthma, heart disease, and leukaemia,” she said.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles’ address to the National Press Club in Canberra last Tuesday was largely used to spruik the importance of the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

In response to the doctors’ protest, Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the NT government had strengthened regulations to safeguard both water and cultural heritage.

“The onshore shale gas industry in the Territory is one of the most regulated and researched industries in the NT … we made sure they were the most robust and comprehensive regulations in the world,” she said.

“A key component of the Pepper Inquiry was the Strategic Regional Environmental and Baseline Assessment, (which) will be used to assess risks and help monitor and mitigate impacts on the Beetaloo region.

“Water extraction will be licensed and practices that were identified as a risk to water resources are prohibited.

“Further, there will be ongoing monitoring and compliance inspections aligned with the new regulatory framework.

“Middle Arm is a renewables energy hub which will help decarbonise our economy and create the jobs of the future.”

If Beetaloo Basin production reaches 1000 terajoules per day, the project is expected to create 13,611 full-time equivalent jobs and an annual contribution to the NT’s gross state product of up to $674m, according to ACIL Allen. Picture: Supplied

Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association NT director David Slama said the public “must follow facts and science”.

“Onshore development is progressing because a 15-month independent scientific inquiry, the Pepper Inquiry, found development could be conducted safely with any potential risks managed,” he said.

“Following an extensive five-year process, the government has introduced strict regulatory oversight, including environmental and water management.”

Mr Slama also said a CSIRO report this year found Beetaloo Basin emissions would potentially be “significantly lower” than the Pepper Inquiry’s estimates of up to 6.6 per cent of Australia’s life-cycle emissions.

“It’s also important to remember that if this gas was used to replace coal or declining fields in other parts of Australia, the net emissions contribution from the gas consumption would be zero or actually reduce emissions,” he said.