Community messages to Albanese Government: Stop MiddleArm and Don’t Frack the NT

The community meeting at Coburg Town Hall on November 23 collected messages for Wills Labor MP Peter Khalil, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

We are delivering these messages to Peter Khalil’s office on Sydney Road to share with Tanya Plibersek, Anthony Albanese and colleagues in the Labor Caucus, and urge them not to proceed with the $1.9 billion infrastructure funding subsidy that includes $1.5 billion for the Middle Arm industrial Hub that will enable fracked gas to be exported as LNG from the Beetaloo Basin.

The Environment Minister had called for a scientific report on hydrological implications of fracking, but had not stopped the companies from proceeding with initial fracking. She needs to use her powers with the Water Trigger for a moratorium on fracking while the scientific report is being prepared.

The Government’s support for coal and gas expansion is strongly out of kilter with its international diplomatic messaging at UN Climate Conferences to transition away from Fossil Fuels. The word – Hypocrisy – comes to mind.

The following covering letter was also handed in:

NT Gas expansion: Middle Arm subsidy and Beetaloo Gas fracking

To Peter Khalil MP

I’m contacting you on behalf of Climate Action Merri-bek and other Wills constituents to pass on messages regarding the Federal Government $1.5 billion funding for infrastructure for the Middle Arm Industrial Hub in Darwin, and failure to use the powers in the water trigger to place a moratorium on fracking in the Beetaloo basin while a hydrology report is being prepared by scientists.

Traditional owners from the Northern Territory visited Melbourne and appealed for support of Melbourne residents here in Wills at a public meeting at Coburg Town Hall on 23 November.

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. Victoria has banned fracking to protect its water and agriculture. Now, it’s time to demand the same for the NT.

Instead of providing funding for 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.

These 5 sheets of personal messages collected at the Coburg Town Hall meeting are for you to share with the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.