NT Govt Gives Fracking Ban Green Light, page-4

A single gas field would increase Oz emissions by 5%

Sir – The Northern Territory Government has made the wrong decision in announcing the lifting of the moratorium on fracking this morning.

Chief Minister Gunner has buckled to pressure from the Federal Government and the gas lobby when most Territorians want a ban on fracking to protect the Territory’s water, land and climate.

At the very least, the moratorium should have been extended until all the recommendations are implemented and all the baseline studies are completed in the 51% of the Territory that is now open to be fracked.

Opening up large new fossil fuel industries, when urgent action is required to mitigate climate change, is the wrong way for the Territory.

NT emissions have risen 28% over the last 10 years, and are continuing to rise. A single NT gas field would increase Australia’s overall emissions by 5%, which is completely unacceptable.

It is doubtful that a 5% increase in Australian overall emissions can be offset, and that there could be no net increase in emissions from any onshore shale gas produced in the NT.

Fracking the Territory could be equivalent to 100 times more than the emissions savings under the Northern Territory Government’s Roadmap to Renewables: 50% by 2030 policy which completely undermines that process.

Regardless of regulations, some risks will always remain. Accidents can and do happen. There will be impacts on some Indigenous communities. There will be impacts on tourism in certain areas and businesses that rely on our clean environment.”

The profits will be taken out of the Territory and the short term financial gains will be nothing in compared to the economic challenges that climate change will bring.

Concerned Territorians will not accept that fracking can be safe, and we urge Alice Springs residents to meet at the Uniting Church Lawns, Todd Mall at 12pm, tomorrow to demonstrate their opposition to this decision.

Jimmy Cocking (pictured)
Director Arid Lands Environment Centre