2025-06-24
Background
As reported by the Guardian today, leaked documents reveal that a consultancy firm Good Advice, run by a former NLC employee, played a central role in facilitating private meetings between Empire Energy and Traditional Owners in the Beetaloo region.
Had the proper process for such meetings have been followed, the Northern Land Council would have facilitated this meeting to ensure no undue influence. Instead these two meetings were held in mid-2024 in Mataranka, designed to obtain signatures from Traditional Owners in support of a sacred site authority certificate needed for fracking approvals in the Beetaloo Basin.
The Guardian reported that in these meetings there were unrealistic promises of large royalties and other benefits, with some Traditional Owners even thinking they were simply signing an attendance sheet. At least two current members of the NLC’s full council are also employed by Good Advice and were reported to have been wearing their NLC uniforms when canvassing communities to support fracking.
First Nations communities have been speaking up against fracking for a decade now, including Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation, a vocal group of Traditional Owners from the affected area. Yet the CLP Government continues to charge ahead.
Empire Energy are attempting to hide from this scandal and the many that have come before it including that they have changed their business name to Beetaloo Energy. The CLP Government continues to subsidise the gas industry despite their exploitation of communities and Country.
This deceptive and immoral conduct from Good Advice and Empire Energy undermines the Aboriginal Land Rights Act and damages trust in our Land Councils.
The NT Greens call on the Albanese government to urgently intervene to stop this project going ahead, and to investigate Good Advice consultancy and Beetaloo Energy.
Quotes attributable to Kat McNamara MLA, Member for Nightcliff
“The gas industry views gaining consent from Traditional Owners as a mere box-ticking exercise that they are willing to achieve by any means necessary.”
“This exploitative industry cannot be trusted. Fracking cannot continue under these current conditions.”
“Across the NT we continue to see the revolving door from Government or Statutory bodies to the private sector. To prevent community members from being taken advantage of, we must introduce stronger regulations.”
“Empire Energy thinks they can wash their hands of this deceit simply by changing their name, but we will hold them to account.”