Eva Lawler to front Middle Arm senate hearing with a message to ‘get some perspective’

In a preview of her address to a Middle Arm inquiry, Eva Lawler tells the committee to ‘build perspective’ on the development she believes is a cornerstone of the NT’s future.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler will tell southern Senators to put preconceptions about Middle Arm aside. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Chief Minister Eva Lawler will tell southern Senators to put ‘petty politics’ and ‘preconceptions’ about Middle Arm aside, as she fronts the second day of hearings into the proposed industrial precinct.

Public hearings in Darwin will continue on Thursday as part of a Senate inquiry currently under way into the Middle Arm development planned 6km south of the city.

In the Northern Territory for the hearings are Independent ACT Senator David Pocock and Greens South Australia Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, chair of the Senate committee on Environment and Communications.

“I’d like to respectfully ask all committee members to come with an open mind about this project and try to understand the significant economic benefits for the Territory,” Ms Lawler says in an exclusive preview of her speech seen by the NT News.

“Senator Hanson-Young, you are quoted as saying ‘Middle Arm will enable climate bombs like Santos’ Barossa Gas field and fracking in the Beetaloo Basin – a climate bomb that could increase Australia’s total emissions’.

“For starters, Santos Darwin LNG is not in the precinct development – they already have their own processing and loading infrastructure.

Senator David Pocock and Senator Sarah Hanson-Young are both vocally opposed to the Middle Arm Industrial Precinct. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Senator Pocock, you put out a statement saying Middle Arm would ‘create Australia’s very own cancer alley’.

“So Senators – put aside any preconceptions about the precinct and use this time to build perspective.”

Ms Lawler will call on the committee, which also includes representatives from the ALP, Liberal Party and the Nationals, to “put preconceived political positions and hostility towards the federal government agenda on climate change” to the side.

She will always recognise “bona fide concerns”, she says, “but unless the committee looks at the evidence objectively and leaves petty politics out of it, then everyone can only conclude this exercise is purely political, removed from reality, and any findings should be read in that light”.

Ms Lawler’s pitch for Middle Arm includes its potential to create 20,000 jobs, support critical mineral mining and renewables generation, and its “exhaustive” environmental, social and cultural assessments.

Northern Territory health workers protest the Middle Arm Industrial Precinct on the steps of Parliament House this week. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Pocock said there needed to be a thorough, credible government analysis of the health and environmental impacts from the project and that this should factor into any approvals process.

“It would be indefensible for any government to allow a development so hazardous to human health, and so close to where people live, work and go to school, to go ahead without any proper assessment or mitigation of such serious adverse health impacts.

“Climate change is already impacting our communities and a project like Beetaloo would only exacerbate that damage.”

Mr Pocock also referenced the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, Marcos A Orellana, who flagged particular concerns with adverse health effects from “the toxic substances” Middle Arm would release in his preliminary report tendered to the inquiry.