NORTHERN Territory Senator Nigel Scullion has slammed the NT Government for “jeopardising vital investment and jobs” with its gas moratorium.
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“One of the fundamental things businesses need to invest is certainty – and the Gunner Government is trashing the Territory’s reputation for being a good place to invest with its gas moratorium and its ham-fisted handling of the economy,” Senator Scullion said today.
“It’s been reported today Labor’s disastrous moratorium on fracking is putting on hold Origin Energy’s massive Beetaloo Basin project.
“More than 6000 jobs are at stake here in this project alone. On top of this, other gas projects have stalled in the NT putting in doubt additional jobs that the Territory desperately needs. Mr Gunner must come to his senses and end this silly moratorium.
“The Gunner Government is showing it has little idea how to run economy with its list of incompetence and mismanagement getting longer by the day.
“The Labor NT Government took five months to realise the previous government’s Home Improvement Scheme was boosting the economy and giving tradies work.
“By blocking Dan Murphy from Darwin Territory Labor is foolishly risking a $40 million commercial development on airport property that would bring much-needed construction and retail jobs.
“Territory Labor’s decision to put the multi-million dollar Ord Stage 3 expansion project on the backburner by making it a lower priority shows it doesn’t take creating remote jobs and growth seriously.
“Minister for Primary Industry and Resources, Ken Vowles, said his Government would not be ’actively pursuing’ the Ord Stage 3 expansion into the NT but added if somebody rocks up and wants to invest in it the government would look at that.
“News flash Minister Vowles – Kimberley Agricultural Investment (KAI) wants to invest and has been developing the second stage of the Ord Irrigation Scheme in Western Australia's Kimberley region with great success.
“In fact, KAI has further invested in WA by purchasing more property showing the Gunner Government is jeopardising the Territory’s chance of jobs and investment from this major project by not making it a priority.”