Phil Scott lashes major political parties over Territory infrastructure projects
The major parties have been accused of ‘corruption’ and ‘brain fart ideas’ over hot-button Territory infrastructure projects by a fresh-faced independent candidate. Find out what he said.
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The major parties have been accused of “corruption” and “brain fart ideas” over hot-button Territory infrastructure issues by independent candidate Phil Scott.
The multimillion-dollar Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct was in Mr Scott’s sights, with the candidate describing the stalled project as “fundamentally flawed” and “frivolous”.
He also criticised Darwin Port and the $60 billion Inpex LNG plant, which he described as “brain fart ideas”.
“The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis reviewed the Middle Arm project and found that it’s fundamentally flawed and the business model is not viable,” Mr Scott claimed.
“And yet still the major parties are willing to invest $1.5 billion of public money into a project that is most unlikely to get off the ground.”
Mr Scott claimed the project would also have damaging environmental and social consequences for residents of Palmerston and Darwin, with reference to a report from the University of Sydney by Professor Melissa Haswell.
“The proposed petrochemical hub is equivalent to 12 coal fired power stations worth of pollution blowing across our city and the prevailing winds,” he said.
“The impacts of that lie in leukaemia, pregnancy complications, the risk of premature death for local babies, as well as a litany of other health outcomes identified by the Haswell report.”
The independent candidate went so far as to accuse both major parties of corruption, claiming federal backers of the project “want to invest in their corporate mates”.
“The same companies that want to develop Middle Arm are the same companies who are donating money to our two major parties,” Mr Scott said.
“I am the only candidate in this election calling corruption for what it is and calling on our community to see through the sort of corruption that the major parties engage in by squandering public money.”
The anti-fracking campaigner said the $1.5 billion in federal funding for the project should instead be directed towards infrastructure and local Territory businesses, which he claimed would address cost of living concerns.
CLP candidate for Solomon Lisa Bayliss said Mr Scott had made “serious allegations”.
“Phil Scott talks a big game about transparency, rather than throwing mud and engaging in dirty politics, why doesn’t he name these companies and the parties involved,” she said.
Ms Bayliss reaffirmed the CLP’s support of the Middle Arm project.
“The CLP is 100 per cent supportive of the middle arm sustainable development precinct.”
Member for Solomon Luke Gosling said he was proud that after nine years of Coalition Government “rorts, and scandals”, he was part of the party that “formed the National Anti-Corruption Commission, giving Australians – for the first time – an official route to report poor, and alleged illegal behaviour within the Commonwealth Government”.
“Since being elected we have seen the Australian Government rise in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index moving back into the top 10 countries – recognising our fight against corruption,” Mr Gosling said.
“I want to see the $1.5 billion stay on the table so that it can be invested in projects that develop common user facilities that support green industry development and the energy transition to a net zero economy.
“I, and the federal government are already working hard to reduce emissions across the Territory – including replacing diesel generated power in our remote communities, to solar and batteries, and by providing Territory households with the cost saving home and business battery scheme.
“The biggest risk to action on climate change, a just transition to net zero and the Territory becoming a renewable energy superpower is the CLP and Peter Dutton’s $600 billion Nuclear Energy Plan.”
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