Territory TOs take Beetaloo fracking complaints to Senate

Territory Traditional Owners have travelled to Canberra to air their opposition to fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.

TERRITORY Traditional Owners have travelled to Canberra to air their opposition to fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.

Speaking before a Senate inquiry on Monday, Garrwa and Yanyuwa man Gadrian Hoosan said $50 million in federal grant money to help establish gas extraction projects should instead be spent in communities.

“We had the fracking inquiry a few years ago but everyone here in the community and right across all said no to fracking but they still went ahead,” he said.

Yanyuwa and Garrwa woman Joni Wilson said TOs had been shut out of the process for approving fracking on their traditional homelands.

“We have not been given any information about fracking, we have not given anyone permission,” she said.

“No one has asked us and even if our old people had, no one understood what was being asked.”

Ms Wilson said she was concerned about the impact fracking could have on her country.

“Country is important to me because it’s my life,” she said.

“It’s part of my body, soul and spirit. It provides food, water and healing.

“Country is important because I live off my land as my ancestors did. Without our land and our water we are nothing — we’re nobody.”

NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said the department had confirmed the grant agreement was not yet signed and final approval for drilling operations had not been granted.

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