Senator Nick Zenophon gas pipeline NT to SA, page-5

Past press comment says the North-South pipeline will cost 1 to 2 billion AU$s. Jemena said they looked at the idea, it is too expensive, would be laid through 100 kms of desert, and some aboriginal land. Others said it is unviable without fracked gas as well as unfracked natural gas. Beetaloo has drilling indications of a potentially huge gas field requiring proving and fracking. It is in remote unsacred land and would need the new pipeline to deliver the quantities of gas it has. The new gas rules pricing regime and arbitration system about to deliver a much more competitive cost of transport choice to CTP and others in the central Australian area would be reinforced by the new N-S pipeline construction. That would attract new explorers and new discoveries in the area. Federal governments attempts to be seen to be manageing the east coast gas shortage would be intensified by initiating the pipeline feasibility study now. That would also undermine Sate Labour, Greens, and Lock The Gate's determination to return us all to 3rd world country standard of living.