WHAT: Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation, which represents native title holders from the NT’s Beetaloo Basin who wish to protect country, comments on new Territory laws proposed by the CLP, designed to side-step environmental and other laws which apply to fracking (“Major projects could be exempted from NT laws, and Minister ‘step in’ powers under future Territory Controller” NT News today).

Djingili elder and Chair, Samuel Janama Sandy said:

“We shouldn’t hurry things, just so frackers can push more money into their pockets. We need to protect our water, our plants and animals and governments need time to make sure projects won’t do damage.

“The Territory is a beautiful place. Traditional Owners have a responsibility to protect country and water for their families and everyone who lives here.

“The new government should be thinking about how to create better housing, health and clean energy for our communities and real jobs that don’t involve digging into our country.

“This is all about money, money, money and opening the door for big companies to do what they want here”.

Background to Nurrdalinji Native Title Aboriginal Corporation

Nurrdalinji Native Title Aboriginal Corporation has members across the Beetaloo Basin and Barkly regions. It includes native title holders from the Amungee Mungee, Beetaloo, Hayfield, Kalala, Newcastle Waters - Murranji, Nutwood Downs, Shenandoah, Tandyidgee, Tanumbirini, Daly Waters Township, Ucharonidge native title determinations.

The Beetaloo sub-basin is located around 500 kilometres south-east of Darwin. It embraces Aboriginal land, pastoral leases (which co-exist with Native Title rights and interests), horticultural enterprises, cattle stations and remote Aboriginal communities. A number of companies are currently undertaking fracked gas drilling in the region, with most of the NT covered by exploration permits.