DARWIN, Northern Territory (CU)_Following the economic downturn brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government of Australia has launched plans for a “gas-led recovery”, which will be focused on the development of five Australian gas fields, including the Beetaloo Basin. As part of this economic recovery, the Minister for Resources and Water, Keith Pitt, has already millions of dollars in grants to a fracking company exploring gas buried deep in the major gas field. While the minister claims that the move was an important step in creating thousands of jobs, however, environmental groups have decided to challenge the decision, claiming that Pitt failed to act in a way that was “reasonable, rational and logical”.
According to Environment Centre NT and the Environmental Defenders Office, who have filed urgent legal actions against the minister, claim that in awarding the three grants totalling $21 million, he had failed to consider the potential implications it would have on climate change and Australia’s obligations under the historical Paris Agreement.
Environment Centre’s co-director Dr Kirsty Howey noted that the grants were an irresponsible use of public funds and that her organisation, together with the Environmental Defenders Office, want taxpayers money to be used wisely after giving full consideration to all the consequences.
“Granting $21 million to a private fossil fuel company should only be done after all care is taken to examine the impacts on climate change, the environment and the community,” she said. “The law requires the minister to be satisfied that the expenditure is a proper use of money … we say that means inquiries into the risks of a heating climate if the heart of the Northern Territory was opened up to fracking.”
Meanwhile, Minister Pitt has denounced the lawsuit claiming that it was a threat to thousands of jobs. He also said the grants were administered in compliance with the process after giving due consideration to the necessary requirements. “Grants are provided to companies that possess the highly specialised skills to meet the challenges of developing the Basin as determined by an expert assessment panel,” he noted.
