Conservative NT politician Robyn Lambley backs Middle Arm senate inquiry

Robyn Lambley has thrown her support behind the senate’s decision to probe Middle Arm, but a key player in the precinct is unphased.

A conservative Northern Territory politician has welcomed the senate’s move to hold an inquiry into Middle Arm, but one of the project’s major proponents says it’s business as usual.

Independent Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley, who is a former Country Liberal Party member, said the probe into the proposed multibillion-dollar precinct near Darwin should lead to “transparency and accountability”.

After twice blocking the move, federal government senators voted on Tuesday to refer the project to the Environment and Communications Reference Committee; but it remains unclear whether an inquiry will have any real impact on the project going ahead.

The commonwealth has committed $1.5bn of funding towards Middle Arm, which is set to include a gas-powered Inpex hydrogen hub and a Tamboran Resources gas export facility among other green projects.

“The NT Government has tried to market the proposed Middle Arm precinct as a ‘renewable energy hub’ with a petrochemical factory being front and centre to the project,” Ms Lambley said.

Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley has raised concerns of Middle Arm’s environmental credentials, welcoming the senate inquiry into the multibillion-dollar project. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Petrochemical factories are notoriously environmentally unfriendly.

“Let’s have some honesty around exactly what is being proposed and exactly what the environmental impacts of this massive industrial precinct could be.”

However Tamboran, one of the key proposed tenants of the precinct, appears unfazed by the senate inquiry with approvals processes still under way.

“The weight of scientific and economic evidence supporting Middle Arm’s development is overwhelming,” a Tamboran spokesman said.

“If requested, Tamboran would be happy to appear at this inquiry and would welcome the opportunity to discuss the incredible potential economic and environmental benefits of the Middle Arm project for the Northern Territory and Australia’s energy future.”

Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison would not comment on the senate inquiry but said Middle Arm was a “renewables energy hub” that would create thousands of jobs.

Mining and Industry Minister Nicole Manison said Middle Arm would be key to decarbonising the Territory’s economy. Picture: Fia Walsh

“The Territory’s resources are critical to the world’s transition to net-zero emissions and will provide the raw materials needed to address climate change,” she said.

“The Northern Territory government is developing and implementing rigorous sustainable environment approaches to the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct, backed by in-depth scientific research.”

Environment Centre NT executive director Kirsty Howey welcomed the inquiry.

“Australians deserve to know how $1.5 billion in taxpayer money has been promised for what is essentially a massive fossil fuel expansion,” she said.

The committee’s report is due by February 28 next year.