The Northern Territory government’s grant of a research contract into fracking impacts to a university centre with close ties to the gas industry represents a profound conflict of interest, say the Protect Country Alliance.

Protect Country Alliance and Birdlife Top End is calling on Northern Territory Environment Minister Eva Lawler to stop Empire Energy from “fracking the finch”.

Protect Country Alliance says recently demoted Morrison Government Resources Minister Keith Pitt is “counting his dinosaur eggs before they hatch” after he announced $21 million for fracking gas wells at a project that has not even received Territory environment approval.