Greens call on Environment Minister to use Water Trigger and stop destructive NT gas fracking

2024-06-07

Responding to the NT Government’s decision to approve Tamboran Resources Shenandoah South Project to frack the Beetaloo Basin, Greens spokesperson for the environment and water Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“The Parliament gave Minister Plibersek the water trigger power - now she must use it and call in Tamboran’s destructive gas mine to be assessed under national environment law.

"It is clear these gas cowboys will stop at nothing to destroy the NT's precious environment and cultural heritage. 

“The NT Government’s decision to approve Tamboran’s fracking mines without environmental assessment comes just days after revelations of additional serious breaches from another gas company, Empire Energy. It is deeply concerning that the NT Government are letting gas companies like Empire Energy and Tamboran Resources off the hook given their destructive environmental record. 

“The idea that these gas mines can be approved without environmental assessment is ludicrous and entirely irresponsible given the significant impacts these projects will, and in some cases have already had, on the environment and cultural heritage.

“The Federal Environment Minister must urgently intervene to protect the environment and precious water resources.

“If Minister Plibersek is happy to wave around the water trigger that the Greens worked to implement as successful environmental reform, she must now pull that trigger to stop these gas fracking corporations trashing our environment and destroying cultural heritage.”

Tamboran Resources, Empire Energy and the NT EPA will all be appearing at a Senate Inquiry on Monday June 17 in Canberra.