LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Sir – The Gunner Government has today failed Territorians, especially regional and remote Territorians, who oppose fracking due to its devastating impacts on land, water and businesses.
This is a slap in the face for all of the Territorians who have stood up and opposed fracking to protect their livelihoods in tourism, agriculture, pastoralism and fishing.
It’s shameful for the government not to listen to Territorians and to ignore the concern and opposition to fracking from the majority of Territorians and Aboriginal people in regional communities.
More than half of the Northern Territory is now at risk of fracking – at risk of damage from thousands of fracked gas wells, water impacts and widespread industrialisation.
Justice Pepper’s report included 135 recommendations and identified serious information gaps.
Lifting the moratorium before studies are done demonstrates a risky ‘frack and see’ approach, which has been heavily influenced by the gas industry.
Chief Minister Gunner had a chance to be a leader and stand up to protect the Territory’s interests, and he squandered it in the face of bullying from the high risk gas industry and the Federal Government.
The high cost of fracking, the clean up bill and expensive attempts to regulate this dangerous industry will outweigh any limited fracking revenue.
The Gunner Government can be certain that the depth of opposition to this invasive industry will continue to grow across the tourism, cattle and farming industries as the threat of fracking gasfields becomes very real and urgent.
Territorians everywhere will be holding the government accountable, and will band together strongly to prevent gas companies riding roughshod over communities and the Territory’s water resources.
Naomi Hogan (pictured)
Lock the Gate
Just another case of a pathetically weak government caving to companies who do not give a brass razoo about the Australian people. May the lot of the weak mongrels rot in hell with their ill gotten gains.