Protect Country Alliance has accused the NT Gunner Government of preparing to backflip over its promise to ensure fracking companies exploiting the Beetaloo Basin offset their greenhouse gas emissions.

Protect Country Alliance is outraged following media reports that a federal disallowance motion to prevent taxpayer money being given to a company wanting to frack the heart of the Territory appears doomed to fail.

The Senate Inquiry into fracking in the Beetaloo Basin commences today, with a majority of submissions opposing public funds being spent on the controversial gas project -and a joint submission from the Northern Territory’s Mining and Environment Minister to the inquiry has raised concerns about the independence of decision-makers.

Of the publicly available submissions to the Senate Inquiry, which include submissions from Aboriginal health organisations, climate scientists and environmental groups, over 80% oppose public funds being spent on fracking the Beetaloo Basin.