The Northern Territory will permit fracking in the Beetaloo Basin, unlocking one of the world’s largest untapped gas reserves and drawing immediate condemnation from environmental groups and Indigenous landowners who vow to oppose any development.

Traditional custodians from the Beetaloo Basin region say they are hopeful that the Greens’ amendment to Labor’s key climate change policy will help them protect their country from fracking.

“The cultural impacts associated with the development of any onshore shale gas industry must be fully explained prior to the development of that industry and that a plan be developed to manage those impacts on Aboriginal people and their communities.

The federal government has secured the support it needs to implement its central climate change commitment, after reaching a deal with the Greens following months of safeguard mechanism negotiations. 

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.