Despite the document being handed to the government more than a week ago, a spokeswoman for Chief Minister Adam Giles told the Katherine Times on Monday that Dr Allan Hawke’s report was still undergoing review, adding that no date had been set to release it. 

Loud protests outside the Minerals Council Summit held in Darwin on December 4 and 5 failed to secure the public release of the report, which anti-fracking activists said amounted to a broken promise.

“We demand the government immediately release the inquiry into hydraulic fracturing report to the public, so we can all have access to the same information,” the Environment Centre NT and anti-fracking organisations said in a joint statement.

The groups, including representatives from Protect Arnhem Land, Don’t Frack Katherine and the Borroloola Traditional Owners, gathered outside the summit and presented a list of their concerns. 

The list included the concern that fracking and the shale gas industry could harm water and air supplies, the environment and the viability of regional communities.

Don’t Frack Katherine spokeswoman Charmaine Roth said at the core of their concerns was that the Territory government had not listened and responded to communities about fracking.

Lauren Mellor from the Environment Centre NT questioned whether the non-release of the report was because it contained findings unfavourable to the government.