Opinion: Marion Scrymgour on protecting the health of our waterways

We all have a responsibility to protect and care for our water and I take extremely seriously any potential impacts that put our water at risk, writes Marion Scrymgour.

Finniss River, NT.

I welcome the recent decision of the Independent Scientific Expert Committee to accept the Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek’s, request to provide scientific advice on the potential impact to the environment from the gas exploration and appraisal activities in the Beetaloo Sub-Basin.

This means, for the first time, the Minister will receive advice in respect to the Sub-Basin.

If the expert advice of this committee finds that activities in the Beetaloo Basin could result in significant impacts on matters covered under national environment law, then the Minister will call this in.

The Federal Environment Minister has not sidestepped the water trigger under national environment law by requesting the Independent Scientific Expert Committee’s advice.

The water trigger was expanded by Federal Labor to cover all unconventional gas projects, including projects in the Beetaloo Sub-Basin.

By seeking the advice of the Independent Scientific Expert Committee, Minister Plibersek will be guided by science, not assumptions, when determining whether or not the activities in this Sub-Basin require approval under national environment law.

The new Chief Minister for the Northern Territory, Lia Finocchiaro, was recently reported in the NT News as saying the referral of the Beetaloo Sub-Basin to the Independent Scientific Expert Committee was not necessary, applauding instead the enormous economic potential Beetaloo offers the Territory.

I strongly disagree with the Chief Minister.

Marion Scrymgour MP, Member for Lingiari, NT, Australian Labor Party.

The process of independent scrutiny at a federal level is essential for all Territorians to be satisfied that the most robust protections are in place to ensure water security is not an issue when it comes to the activities of the Beetaloo Sub-Basin.

For many regions and remote parts of my electorate of Lingiari, safe and reliable groundwater for drinking is fundamental for the health, wellbeing and quality of life of residents in these communities.

I stand with the Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders when I say that water is sacred and an essential part of life.

For me, water is more than sustenance. It is a way of life and crucial to cultural identity, spiritual practice and traditional knowledge.

Water protects our sacred sites, provides bush tucker and keeps our lands alive.

We all have a responsibility to protect and care for our water and I take extremely seriously any potential impacts that put our water at risk.

There have been no referrals for assessment from any proponent undertaking exploration and appraisal activities in the Beetaloo Sub-Basin, on whether their activities are likely to have an impact on matters of national environmental significance.

Let me be clear. The application of the water trigger under national environment law does not automatically ban commercial gas production in the Beetaloo Sub-Basin.

Minister Plibersek is doing her job by obtaining independent, expert advice on the potential impacts of unconventional gas exploration and appraisal activities in the Beetaloo Sub-Basin.

I applaud her actions, and I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the Committee’s investigation.