If you are not heading up to the Rising Tide Blockade in Newcastle 19th-26th November, we have just the Saturday event for you, and equally important to attend, to welcome to Wurindjeri-Woiwurrung country Territory visitors.

We have been working in the background organising with Beyond Gas Network, Lock the Gate, Australian Conservation Foundation and other local groups to bring people from the Northern Territory to Melbourne to tell their stories how the country they love and enjoy is becoming a climate sacrifice zone as gas extraction and export is expanded.

Coburg Town Hall

• Northside: Coburg Town Hall Saturday 23 November 2.30pm-5pm
  Northside RSVP link: https://www.ecnt.org.au/frontlinesoftheclimatecrisis 
  Northside Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1527664067909275/

Your voice here in Melbourne can help stop fracking in the NT

Right now, fracking for gas in the Northern Territory threatens water, country and our climate. Gas companies have just started drilling gas wells in the Beetaloo Basin south of Darwin, and plan to frack them in the coming months during the wet season.

Add your voice to the petition calling on Victorian Federal Labor MPs, to take action to stop fracking in the Northern Territory: https://www.lockthegate.org.au/dont_frack_the_nt 

Victoria has banned fracking to protect its water and agriculture. Now, it’s time to demand the same for the NT – and your Federal Labor MP in Victoria could help make this a reality.

But they’ll only act if they feel pressure from thousands of Victorians – can you help by calling on your local Federal Labor MP to take action on fracking by signing this petition?

We have big plans to ramp up pressure on Labor MPs across key electorates in Victoria to ensure they hear our call to stop fracking in the NT. By taking action from Melbourne, you can stand in solidarity with communities on the frontlines, helping protect precious water and our climate for generations to come. 

To learn more about why we are calling on Federal Labor MP’s to protect water, country and climate from fracking, check out this video: https://vimeo.com/919377824. To learn more about the dangers of fracking in the NT, head to this link at Lock the Gate.

Read about the Middle Arm Industrial development for Darwin. Instead of fproviding a total of $1.9 billion in funding gas expansion the Federal Government could be funding renewables, sustainable jobs and training and addressing remote housing issues (all of which would help reduce indigenous communities inequity, poverty and social issues) The answers are in Recharging the Territory Report.

Speakers at the Coburg Town Hall will be:

• Miliwanga Wurrben is a Rembarrnga woman from Central Arnhem land, but now lives in Katherine. She describes herself as a traditional healer, weaver and midwife. 
• Mililma May is a Danggalaba Kulumbirgin Tiwi woman. She is a community organiser and freelance writer. She has supported grassroots movements across the Top End in the fight for Aboriginal self-determination and liberation. 
• Adam Gaston, Mangarrayi man and advocate for Country
• Dr Louise Woodward is a Northern Territory paediatrician from Darwin who has been using her voice and expertise as a doctor to raise the alarm about the health impacts of the Middle Arm gas hub and Beetaloo fracking.
• MC’d by Environment Centre NT’s Executive Director Kirsty Howey

Background in Merribek and Wills

In June 2023 we reported on the Federal Government $1.5 billion subsidy for the Middle Arm industrial hub development: When is a $1.5 billion fossil fuel subsidy not a subsidy? When the Federal Minister says it is not (Sic). And we have lobbied Federal MP Peter Khalil on Beetaloo Basin Gas, legislation and use of the water trigger and a climate trigger. Citizens of Wills have been raising issue of subsidies for NT gas expansion with Peter Khalil since the 2019 election campaign candidates forum.

Second Event in Melbourne

Southside Event: Koorie Heritage Trust, Sunday, 24 November 9.30am-12pm
Southside RSVP link: https://www.ecnt.org.au/ntclimatejusticegathering 
Southside Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/3608430572633621/

Rising Tide protest in Newcastle

We know quite a few people are heading up to Newcastle for the Rising Tide blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port and listen to some great music, meet like minded people and stand up against fossil fuels. The wave starts in Newcastle 19th-26th and in Canberra 26th-28th. You can Register here: https://www.risingtide.org.au/blockade-rego.

But if you are not going to Newcastle or Canberrra, for whatever reason, come along and support our Northern Territory visitors to stop the destruction of country and expansion of gas in the Northern Torritory.