Senate votes to probe Beetaloo Basin fracking

Senators in Canberra have backed the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry into fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.

SENATORS in Canberra have backed the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry into fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.

The Greens proposal passed with support from Labor on Wednesday.

NT Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy is understood to have supported the motion.

The motion was in response to a letter sent to parliament by activist group Get Up! and written by traditional owners, pleading with the government to pause fracking in the Northern Territory.

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After the vote passed, Greens senator Larissa Waters took to Twitter to celebrate the win.

“Thrilled to get support to establish a Senate inquiry into the Govt’s proposed gift of yet more taxpayer dollars to private companies to open up the Beetaloo Basin in the NT for gas fracking,” Ms Waters wrote.

“In a climate crisis. Without First Nations consent.”

Thrilled to get support to establish a Senate inquiry into the Govt’s proposed gift of yet more taxpayer dollars to private companies to open up the Beetaloo Basin in the NT for gas fracking. In a climate crisis. Without First Nations consent. #auspol#fossilfuelsubsidies

— Larissa Waters (@larissawaters) June 23, 2021

In response to the vote, CLP Senator Sam McMahon said the referral was “not unusual”.

“The Greens and Federal Labor don’t support gas development and the jobs they create despite it being a major contributor to ensuring reliability of any renewable solution,” Senator McMahon said.

“The Coalition is committed to developing our natural resources because this creates jobs and new industries for the Territory.”

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