Our say: Let Traditional Owners decide on fracking

A SENSIBLY run and well regulated onshore gas fracking industry has the potential to boost the Territory’s economic fortunes

Protesters and traditional indigenous owners from the Northern Territory hold an anti-fracking rally. Picture: Dean Lewins

A SENSIBLY run and well regulated onshore gas fracking industry has the potential to boost the Territory’s economic fortunes.

Estimates of its value to the NT in revenue vary but at a time when the NT is searching for ways to lift its own-source revenue and get the economy moving, it is important to explore every opportunity that comes our way.

A successful onshore gas industry also has great potential to be a valuable economic driver in indigenous communities.

What anti-frackers often fail to mention is that Traditional Owners have “absolute veto” over what happens on their land.

That means they have the power to say no to any mining activity or other development on their land, if that is what they decide is best.

No other landowners have such power.

But they should also have the power to decide that fracking should go ahead on their land, if that is what they want to happen.

On the face of it, it appears the Government’s move to impose fracking no go zones over Aboriginal land infringes on that right of Traditional Owners to decide what happens on their land.

Last year, then-resources minister Ken Vowles expressed his frustrations that Aboriginal people had been used as pawns by some in the anti-fracking lobby.

While many indigenous Territorians undoubtedly do not want fracking to go ahead, others are open to the idea and the benefits it could bring. It is a decision that should be theirs to make.