Fracking laws pass NT parliament

EXPLORATION for hydraulic fracking could begin this year after the NT Government last night passed legislation to regulate the practice

Resources Minister Paul Kirby has defended the ability for any person to challenge decisions under the new act regulating fracking. Picture: Justin Kennedy

EXPLORATION for hydraulic fracking could begin this year after the NT Government last night passed legislation to regulate the practice.

The passage of the laws followed the 15 month inquiry into the practice by Justice Rachel Pepper.

Debate on the regulations went into the evening. One of the sticking points was the controversial “open standing” clause which will allow any person to challenge decisions under the act.

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Fracking proponents fear that could mean development is hamstrung by vexatious challenges from anti-frackers.

But Resources Minister Paul Kirby said similar regulations in other jurisdictions “hadn’t resulted in floodgates opening”.

The “cost and effort” involved in mounting challenges were an impediment to spurious claims being brought, he said.

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Deputy Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said litigants needed to have a connection to the decision to be able to challenge it in court.

She criticised the Government for accepting the recommendation to introduce open standing without doing its homework on how it could play out.

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“The fact the Government hasn’t had an independent thought about this law, simply because it was a recommendation of the independent Pepper report, should ring huge alarm bells for Territorians and industries,” she said.

Ms Pepper’s inquiry returned 135 recommendations to the Government.