Feds announce $21m for Beetaloo Basin fracking project weeks after parliamentary inquiry vote

A $21 million grant for fracking projects in the Beetaloo Basin has been announced, just weeks after a Parliamentary inquiry into the operation was established.

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FORMER Northern Australia Minister Keith Pitt has announced a $21m grant for fracking projects in the Beetaloo Basin, just weeks after a Parliamentary inquiry into the operation was established.

Mr Pitt, who is also the Resources and Water Minister, said the grant would support three new fracking exploration wells at Empire Energy’s EP187 exploration zone near the community of Borroloola.

“The Beetaloo Sub-basin is potentially a world-class gas resource which could create thousands of jobs and help bolster supplies of gas for the domestic market and for exports around the world,” he said.

The announcement has drawn criticism from Greens deputy leader Larissa Waters, who said the project was a “climate disaster waiting to happen”.

“If it goes ahead it could increase Australia’s carbon emissions by as much as 23 per cent. Only a few weeks ago the G7 said governments should be phasing out taxpayer support of fossil fuel projects by 2025 as part of efforts to avoid catastrophic climate change.”