Gunner’s gasmen a poor choice - could lead to NT’s economic bust yet again

The NT Gunner Government’s disappointing decision to appoint two pro-gas cheerleaders to the head of its Economic Reconstruction Commission is short sighted at a time when renewables should be leading the post-coronavirus recovery, according to Protect Country Alliance.

The government today named Dow Chemical executive and Saudi Aramco board member Andrew Liveris as one of the Commission’s chairs, and former Chief Minister, Energy Club NT co-founder, and onshore gas advocate Paul Henderson as the other. 

Protect Country Alliance spokesperson Dan Robins said the gas industry had utterly captured the Gunner Government, despite a majority of Territorians being opposed to fracking.

“Australia’s gas fracking industry has suffered massive setbacks in the past few months due to the oil price crisis and the coronavirus-driven economic slowdown, yet Michael Gunner refuses to see the writing on the wall,” he said.

“Both of these men have been cheerleaders for the gas fracking industry. Andrew Liveris has a long history of business deals with the struggling shale gas industry in the US, while Paul Henderson is the man who signed the INPEX contracts that have seen huge amounts of gas sold overseas while the NT economy falls further and further into debilitating debt.

“The way to supercharge and future proof our economy is undoubtedly renewables. We have a chance to create a clean, future-looking economy, yet Michael Gunner wants to tie us to tired old fossil fuels by appointing these gasmen to head the Reconstruction Commission.”

Beyond Zero Emissions' 10 Gigawatt Vision last year mapped out plans for a renewable powered manufacturing industry in the Northern Territory.

“We have the world’s best solar resources, yet the Gunner Government continues to use tens of millions of Territorian taxpayer dollars to prop up the unstable fracking industry,” Mr Robins said.

“The public purse certainly should not have to pay for these private fracking companies to lay waste to land, water, and communities.

“It is ludicrous that we should be subsidising and promoting the polluting, economically unviable fracking industry when renewable energy can provide cheaper, cleaner and more reliable future industries.”

Media contact: Daniel Robins, Protect Country Alliance Spokesperson Darwin 

[email protected]

Gunner’s gas cash giveaway leaves Territorians flabbergasted

The Gunner Government’s bizarre decision to side with the Morrison Government and waste more taxpayer funds propping up polluting fracking gasfields will threaten communities, damage the environment, and push the Territory’s fragile economy further into the doldrums.

Today, Chief Minister Michael Gunner is expected to announce plans to use more public money to further subsidise the unstable and dying gas industry, while pushing for environmental vandals Origin Energy to resume fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.

“Let’s be clear, the fracking industry in the NT is a leaner, not a lifter,” Protect Country Alliance spokesperson Dan Robins said.

“The frackers are slackers who have guzzled more than $100 million in public funds over the past decade, while giving absolutely nothing back to Territorians.”

A recent report by The Australia Institute showed $94 million had been given to the shale gas industry over the past decade. According to the NT Government’s own budget figures, $60.4 million paid for subsidised exploration and gas industry promotion, while approximately $33.6 million went to unrecovered administration costs. 

Then last week, NT Treasurer Nicole Manison announced another $11.79 million for the NT onshore shale gas fracking industry. 

Mr Robins said fracking was the wrong way to encourage more manufacturing in the Territory.

“The shale gas industry has already been given more than $100 million of taxpayer money by the NT Government and now it is asking for more,” he said.

“These frackers can’t even stand on their own two feet. The public purse certainly should not have to pay for these private companies to lay waste to land, water, and communities.

“Manufacturing jobs can be powered by renewable sources. There are private solar companies lining up with plans to invest in the NT, instead Michael Gunner wants to use public money to prop up a dying gas industry.”

Beyond Zero Emissions' 10 Gigawatt Vision maps out plans for a renewable powered manufacturing industry in the Northern Territory.

“The NT Government needs to put an end to this wasteful, decade long addiction to giving away taxpayer money to the polluting and economically unviable shale gas fracking industry,” Mr Robins said.

“Instead, we are calling on the government to get behind the solar companies that want to create a renewable energy future for the NT.”

ENDS

Media contact, Dan Robins, [email protected]

Media Release 

Public shouldn’t pay gas companies to wreck NT’s Beetaloo

Protect Country Alliance is disgusted following the revelation today that a manufacturing taskforce advising the National Covid-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC) wants to sink public money into propping up fracking in the NT's Beetaloo basin.

PCA spokesperson Dan Robins said Territorians had made it clear they did not want their taxpayer dollars spent on dirty and dangerous fracking.

The latest revelations follow a report by The Australia Institute which showed nearly $100 million in NT taxpayer funds had already been spent propping up the fracking industry over the past decade.

“What an absolutely rubbish waste of public money,” Mr Robins said.

“Territorians are already sick of their taxpayer dollars being given away to gas companies.

“The revolving door between fossil fuel companies and our parliaments is now wide out in the open for all to see, and it’s dominating our Covid-19 economic recovery.

“What Territory voters want to see is a government that represents their interests, not the interests of the gas fracking industry.

“Our role is not to rescue the unstable and dying gas industry. If we want plentiful, clean and low price energy for Australian businesses, we can now look to solar, wind and pumped hydro.

“The sooner we stop wasting our cash on fracking for gas, the better.

“Farmers and Traditional Owners are fighting to protect water and health against these polluting and water-guzzling gas fracking companies. We cannot afford to sell out our regional communities for the benefit of a few gas-linked Government pals.

“The Morrison Government needs to have a serious rethink of their desperate gas industry-linked covid commissioners.”

ENDS

Media contact, Dan Robins

[email protected]