While there was some interesting information presented, like the behaviour of shale rocks in underground mines, there was also the usual scaremongering about water and an economic analysis which failed to provide any context about the economic circumstances in the Northern Territory.

There was obviously no interest in either delivering or receiving alternative points of view.

For example, when I tried to inform the meeting of changes to procedures for miners and explorers to gain access to pastoral leases which strengthens the negotiating position of lessees.

While undoubtedly passionate, roadshow emcee Daniel Tapp, by his own admission, is not strong on the details and made wild assertions about trucking chemicals across state borders for dumping by the roadside, or industry allowing depleted production wells to continue flowing gas into the atmosphere.

I suspect the assertions have little basis in fact and did nothing to provide the public with accurate information or a basis for having a well-informed opinion.

The NT government and the petroleum industry’s own representative body must bear some responsibility for this.

The failure to address widely-circulated misconceptions has been woeful.

As a pastoral lessee that has had exploration activity taking place on my property, I have been able to garner a lot of detail about the scope of the activities, practices employed and the monitoring, as well as the potential impacts on my operation more widely.

I believe there is a desire by local people to know more detail about what is happening  – not spin or opinions, just plain facts.

THERE is such excitement from the “grown-ups” over the leasing of the Port of Darwin for 99 years to China.

The criticism is coming fast and furious from the Australian Labor Party.

Of course, one has to grasp at straws when one’s political support is down in the polls and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s is skyrocketing.

However, why do we not hear about all those United Nations treaties and agreements we have signed onto that have robbed Australia of much if its sovereignty?

The critics should have something to say about our food supply.

Every time I cruise the supermarkets, I see products from all over the world.

What would happen if that supply was cut off?

I reckon we would be starving in no time.

How is it that the politicians have allowed our farming and manufacturing sectors to be run offshore?

There is a lot to criticise, but they are selective in choosing what to bag. 

I would like to congratulate – and totally agree with – R.F Stretten for his letter in last week’s Katherine Times about flood mitigation.

It is a great pity that a large amount of locals have little to do but bury their heads in the sand and cry.

The list of what cant be done – according to the flood report – with red herrings, such as the hospital and ambulance station relocation, should have nothing to do with flood mitigation, and should not come out of the $25 million from the TIO sale.

Katherine has been built on a floodplain and mitigation is neither possible nor probable.

What is needed is a set plan and solid available funding for early warnings and an evacuation for this town.