Middle Arm hearings ‘captured’ by activists and meddling southerners: Coalition

Conservative pollies have presented a united front in support of Middle Arm, criticising public hearings they say have given voice to those ‘hellbent on destroying the NT’s future’.

NT Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro, NT Senator Jacinta Price and The Nationals Northern Australia Shadow Minister Susan McDonald said Middle Arm had their full support and the senate inquiry should never have taken place. Picture: Fia Walsh.

Coalition politicians have presented a united front in support of Middle Arm, criticising public hearings into the development as “more of a circus than a Senate inquiry”.

Territory Country Liberal Leader Lia Finocchiaro, Senator Jacinta Price and Senator Susan McDonald said an inquiry into the planned industrial hub should have never taken place, arguing the committee hearings had been stacked with activistsand allowed the “narrative to be captured” by southerners seeking to limit economic development in the NT.

Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Price criticised the process as giving voice to “those who are hellbent on destroying the Northern Territory’s economy and opportunities for our most marginalised, Indigenous Australians”.

“We know that economic development can occur that can be environmentally safe, and that can provide benefits for our entire community,” she said.

“The rest of the country somehow seem to think that we should be kept as museum pieces here in northern Australia, that we should not be allowed to progress and move forward with the rest of the world to create economic opportunities (and) economic independence.

“This whole process so far has been more of a circus than I would suggest it has been a Senate inquiry.”

The ‘united front’ of politicians said Middle Arm was important to the NT’s economic development.

Middle Arm is projected to create up to 20,000 jobs and is a cornerstone of the government’s ambitious target of a $40bn economy by 2030.

Shadow Northern Australia Minister and Nationals Senator McDonald called the inquiry “a complete stitch up”.

“What they won’t tell you is that the development of this project allows for critical minerals projects to go ahead, for battery manufacturing to go ahead, for gas development – that’s right – for hydrogen development.

“These are all projects that are important to the economic development and sustainability of the NT.

“It is not good enough to have these southerners come up and jeopardise that.”

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the Coalition and gas lobby did not want public scrutiny. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Finocchiaro said the inquiry should never have been allowed to proceed “and only undermines business confidence in the Northern Territory”.

“At a time when we have the worst performing economy in the nation – when we have housing approvals dropping when we have construction declining, population growth going backwards and retail spending down – what we need now more than ever before is to send a very clear message that the Territory is open for business.”

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young was instrumental in pushing for the inquiry and is serving as its Chair.

“The Coalition said the quiet part out loud today: they didn’t want to hear the views or serious concerns of the Darwin community at all,” she said.

“Thank goodness the Senate has been able to provide an opportunity for the Darwin community to have their say.

“The Coalition and gas lobby don’t want public scrutiny because they know a toxic petrochemical and gas scheme in the middle of Darwin harbour is not in the public interest.”