2025-03-11
Background
Leaked correspondence from the NT Government indicates that US-based company Crowley constructed 11 military fuel tanks on Darwin Harbour without a building permit, breaching the Building Act 1993 (NT). Project Caymus was approved in 2021 and is designed to store 300 million litres of military-grade jet fuel on behalf of the US military. This raises concerns as to whether the US military industry present in the NT is not held to the same standards as other actors.
Quotes Attributable to Mx Kat McNamara, MLA for Nightcliff
“The US military industry must be held to the same standards as other actors in the NT.”
“We cannot continue to be a puppet for the US here in Australia and in the NT, especially under the volatile Trump presidency. Australia needs an independent foreign policy now. We can’t hitch our wagon to the US any longer.”
“The NT is too ready to cut corners for anything with a US flag on it. Stories like these make you wonder what’s happening behind our backs at the Tindal air base or at Pine Gap.”
“It’s deeply worrying that with such clear weaknesses in our regulatory oversight already, the CLP government now wants to introduce the Territory Coordinator. We can’t cut corners in the name of cutting red tape.”
“If there are no penalties for the US building firm for building these tanks illegally, the CLP Government must explain to Territorians why there is one rule for them and a different rule for big business?”