A report has cast doubt on the fracking industry's promise of jobs and economic benefits for Indigenous communities near the Beetaloo Basin.

Traditional Owners have again slammed plans to frack the Beetaloo Basin following the release of a secret federal government report that found conditions were “not conducive to strong agreements being negotiated”.

Water experts and environmentalists are calling for the federal government to take action over the Northern Territory government's massive proposed ground water extraction plan that includes an allocation for gas fracking.

Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation chair Johnny Wilson says new fracking laws do not allow Traditional Owners to protect and care for country.

Gas company Santos has ended its sponsorship of the Darwin Festival following a campaign by environmental activists and traditional owners.

The Northern Territory government's management of water could "run rivers dry" and risk the livelihoods of future generations, a traditional owner has said during a major water conference in Darwin this week.

For the first time, major industries in the Northern Territory will be charged for the water they use, in a policy shift the Environment Minister says is aimed at "bigger industries", not "small businesses and small farmers trying to make a go of it".