The Northern Territory chief minister has accused “teals [independents] and trolls” of trying to shut down the Middle Arm development over concerns it props up gas exports from the Beetaloo basin.
Natasha Fyles made those comments at the National Press Club on Tuesday, warning that the “Territory is not for turning” on the project, which has received $1.5bn of federal support from the Albanese government.
Fyles described Middle Arm as a “sustainable development precinct”, echoing language used by the federal government, despite the fact fracking company Tamboran Resources is an anchor tenant and revelations from government briefing documents that it is “seen as a key enabler” for the export of gas from the Beetaloo basin.
Fyles said the NT government “loves” Middle Arm because of “the opportunities for energy transition, exports and jobs”.
“And the teals and the trolls can spread their nonsense about it all they want but they should know it’s going to take a lot more than a couple of tweets for us to back down.”
Fyles argued it was “breath-taking hypocrisy” for “people living on Sydney’s northern beaches or in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs” to lecture the NT about “what jobs Territorians can or can’t have”.
That is because they are “bagging out a development that supports zero and lower emissions energy from places overwhelmingly powered by coal and oil”, she said.
“This is part of the same simplistic and misleading scare campaign we see about the role of natural gas in the Territory, mostly led by people living thousands of kilometres away from us.”
Fyles argued natural gas is important for energy security and “part of our responsible, reliable and realistic pathway to a net zero economy”.
Critics from within the NT responded to Fyles’ speech by noting that polling suggests more than 65% of Territorians are worried about the impacts of fracking on water supplies and the environment.
The 2018 Pepper inquiry into fracking in the territory also found Aboriginal people from regional communities who made submissions to the panel “almost universally expressed deep concern about, and strong opposition to, the development of any onshore shale gas industry on their country”.
Ray Dimakarri Dixon, a Mudburra traditional owner from Marlinja, said: “If that chief minister doesn’t know people in the NT are leading the fight to stop fracking, she’s got no ears.”
Middle Arm has been criticised by the Greens, who have labelled it “greenwashing”, independent senator David Pocock and independent MPs including Zali Steggall.
Despite Fyles’ charge of hypocrisy, the critics of Middle Arm have consistently advocated against new fossil fuel projects and for decarbonisation of the electricity sector.
Pocock said that “it is people in the NT who are expressing concern”, calling the “teals and trolls remark” a “cheap shot in what should be a serious evidence-based policy debate”.
The independent MP Monique Ryan said Fyles’ “personal name-calling … does a disservice to the children and grandchildren of the NT, whose health is at risk due to the Middle Arm project and prospect of fracking in the Beetaloo Basin”.
Asked about support for fracking and gas export involved in the project, Fyles said: “It’s really important for people to understand on the east coast, we care more about our environment than anyone”.
Fyles said the project “will continue to go through rigorous assessments” and is based on “circular economy principles”.
Fyles said there was “so much more to it than those simplistic headlines”, citing the fact it includes development of hydrogen and critical minerals, which will help make solar panels and electric cars.
Fyles said direct (scope one) emissions had been “dealt with” when asked about her government’s commitment to ensuring there was no net increase in life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions in Australia from any unconventional gas projects in the NT, including in the Beetaloo basin. But on indirect scope two and three emissions, Fyles said these fall “outside” the NT’s jurisdiction and would need to be “managed by the commonwealth”.
The Albanese government continues to be pushed to take greater action on emissions reduction, including by Pocock proposing a duty of care to future generations on environment legislation.
On Tuesday, Anthony Albanese declined to express a view on the senator’s bill, saying he did not “follow all” such private bills.
Asked about removal of references to supporting coal from Labor’s draft platform, Albanese told reporters in Canberra: “We support jobs but we also support sustainability.
“We’re getting that balance right. We’re making a difference on climate change, but we’re also making a difference on jobs and the economy.”
In question time the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, was pressed on the risk of “extreme summer of fires and heatwaves” and her approval for coal and gas projects.
Plibersek responded by noting that Unesco had recommended against listing the Great Barrier Reef as in danger, and the Albanese government’s success legislating a 43% emissions reduction target.
“We have legislated a safeguard mechanism mill to make sure that large projects approved in Australia fit within the trajectory to net-zero.”
