A federal MP wants an urgent halt on mining approvals in the Beetaloo Basin, arguing the Northern Territory government has been "inaccurate" in claiming it has implemented all recommendations to reduce fracking risks in the region.
The Labor government announced earlier this month it would allow a full-scale onshore gas industry to go ahead in the region, claiming it had adopted all 135 recommendations of an inquiry by Justice Rachel Pepper that took place nearly a decade ago.
But federal Labor Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour said traditional owners, pastoralists and environmentalists were seriously concerned key recommendations had not been properly addressed, particularly around water use.
"I'd ask the chief minister if the NT government couldn't just pause for a minute," she said.
"Let's sit down, let's look at this more strategically, and have a discussion with native title holders who have got huge concerns down there, as well as pastoralists."
'We were all surprised'
Ms Scrymgour, who said she was "not anti-fracking" said a key recommendation around water use (recommendation 7.3 from the Pepper inquiry) had still not been implemented.
It requires the Commonwealth to amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBCA) to put a "water trigger" in place, which would protect water resources from shale gas operations.
Currently, a water trigger is only in place for coal seam gas operations.
The legislative change was aimed at allowing a fully independent federal process of scrutiny over water use in the Beetaloo Basin.
Ms Scrymgour said while the federal government had committed to the amendment, it was yet to be implemented because it was part of a "whole suite of changes" planned for the Act.
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said this would happen before the end of the year.
But Ms Scrymgour said the NT government had in the meantime declared the Beetaloo Basin "open for business", which meant production approvals could be granted for operations outside of the water trigger.
"We were all surprised," she said.
"If the NT government is confident they can address the water trigger in their legislation, well then they need to provide that information."
She also claimed the NT government was inaccurate in claiming traditional owners would be able to veto fracking projects under the Native Title Act.
"They can have consideration of the project, they can be consulted, but they cannot veto that project," Ms Scrymgour said.
Minister stands by decision
NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles stood by her government's claims that all recommendations from the Pepper Inquiry had been implemented.
"Recommendation 7.3 has been completed, and we will continue to work closely with the Australian government as they consult on the EPBCA reform," she said.
Ms Fyles said the Native Title Act was federal legislation, but under NT legislation, traditional owners had a right of veto before exploration.
She also claimed her government had an "extensive program of water regulatory reform", and would be implementing the NT's first long-term plan for water security as part of the 2023 budget.
Carbon offset concerns
Ms Scrymgour said recommendation 9.8, which requires emissions from both the extraction and use of Beetaloo gas to be fully offset, had also sparked concerns.
She said if carbon from the basin was going to be captured and stored, it would have to be stored in the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct in Darwin.
"And that hasn't even commenced yet, and that has a whole lot of issues around it as well," she said.
