Today the Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek reveals she will not apply the “water trigger” to properly scrutinise the impacts on water of fracking development in the Beetaloo Basin (NT News here). Independent Expert Scientific Committee advice here.

Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation, which represents native title holders from the Beetaloo Basin region and has made several submissions to the Federal Minister, the NT Government and the Northern Land Council calling for the water trigger to be applied to fracking projects, today expressed deep concern that projects will not be subject to full assessment for their impact on water in their region.

Chair of Nurrdalinji, Djingili Elder Samuel Janama Sandy said, “The Independent Expert Scientific Committee admits there are big gaps in what we know about how fracking, cotton growing and other development will drain or poison our water. We must know more before we drill into country and the big water lungs that sit below it.

“Minister Plibersek needs to get out of her airconditioned office, bring her scientists with her, and take a good look at what’s happening here. We have animals dying, birds dying, ecosystems under stress and we will have a big catastrophe for water if this development goes ahead. 

“These gas companies are cowboys who don’t play by the rules.  There’s already been a number of pollution events from Tamboran and Empire’s handful of fracking wells which put water at risk. What will happen when there are hundreds and then thousands?

“We can’t risk our water, which is the source of all life as we know it. We have a responsibility to protect it. Our rivers, lakes and underground waterways are everything to us in the Territory. If it’s poisoned or drained away, we’re shot birds”.

Photos: Nurrdalinji Directors and members visited Maverick 1 well pad on June 23, a site of various pollution incidents, on Tanumbirini Cattle Station. Photo here.  Samuel Janama Sandy headshot here.