'Govt fracking jobs figures out by a factor of 10'

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p22100-Naomi-HoganLETTER TO THE EDITOR
 
Sir – A report released last night by the NT Fracking Inquiry reveals a massive drop in projected jobs figures if fracking goes ahead across the Northern Territory.
 
The previous Deloitte’s report that has been used to push the fracking industry showed that in 2040 there would be 6,321 jobs in the highest possible fracking scenario.
 
In stark contrast, the new ACIL Allen report shows there will be only 558 jobs in their highest possible development scenario by the year 2043.
 
This new economic report shows will get less than 10% of the jobs we were told we would get in the previous Deloitte’s report if we allow fracking across the NT
 
The 13,000 jobs figure in the ACIL Allen report is based on adding up the jobs required each year over 25 years. It assumes that every person loses their job after just one year, and then a new position is created. It’s a misleading figure.
 
The report shows that total employment in the Northern Territory was 132,200 in August 2017. So even if we go with the highest number of fracking wells, we’re still only getting an extra 500 jobs in a year. That’s a tiny 0.4% increase in the number of jobs in the Northern Territory.
 
The report shows that even if this risky fracking industry were to proceed, there would be less than half a percent extra jobs created each year in the Territory, and most of these would be for fly in fly out workers from other parts of Australia.
 
Shockingly, the report reveals that fracking companies will access all their water for free (see page 52).
 
While Territorians pay through the nose for water, this report highlights a NT Government subsidy for the fracking industry to extract billions and billions of litres of Territory water in the coming decades for free.
 
There are other industries in the NT creating far more than a few hundred fly in fly out jobs that do not put groundwater at risk from fracking chemical contamination and spills, and do not rely on getting access to billions of litres of free water.
 
Defying scientific reports on the impacts of the fracking industry, the report fails to cost in the impacts on other Territory business who could have their water supply drop, or their water contaminated by spills and leaks.
 
ACIL Allen failed to account for any loss of money to tourism operators and food growers that rely on clean uncontaminated groundwater and natural springs.
 
This economic model reveals it does not include the costs to the NT economy from having to deal with the long-term contamination impacts of fracking chemical spills.
 
Naomi Hogan (pictured)
Lock the Gate Alliance
 
(The Alice Springs News Online is asking Resources Minister Ken Vowles to comment.)
 
CORRECTED upon request by author at 7am  October 30.
 

2 COMMENTS

  1. Given that we are in the middle of a still unresolved firefighting foam scandal that is affecting not just the NT but other states as well, it beggars belief that the fracking option is still being considered.
    The area where I went to highschool in the US sits on top of the Widefield aquifer.
    Due to the same foam being used on nearby US Air Force bases, that aquifer is now polluted and that highschool now has to truck in water.
    Let’s NOT go there. The assurances given by the fracking industry are as worthless as those given to our firefighters concerning the foam.

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