NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner must end his ill-thought gas moratorium and open up gas supply and create jobs, NT Senator Nigel Scullion said today.
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“Michael Gunner should end his moratorium on fracking and open up much-needed gas reserves for the Territory and the country. If the Chief Minister doesn’t want to listen to me, I suggest he listen to his federal leader, Bill Shorten,” Senator Scullion said.
“Mr Shorten is quoted in today’s Australian: ‘We need to open up the supply of gas, we need to get building pipelines.’ Even Mr Shorten knows Mr Gunner needs to end his silly ban and promote economic growth for the Territory.
“Since the election last year of the Gunner Government, the NT economy has slipped and is now second last on the CommSec State of the States report. As Opposition leader Gary Higgins stated, after 15 years of population growth, budget forecasts show Labor will preside over a population reduction this financial year and by 2020 a decade of growth in population numbers will be wiped away,” Senator Scullion said.
“Business is so worried about Michael Gunner’s performance, or lack thereof, that some of the Territory’s top business leaders have formed the Darwin Major Business Group to help this hapless government make good business policy.
“Territorians can only hope the Gunner Government listens to the advice of business leaders and the federal Labor leader and allow on-shore gas development that will create jobs and bring people to the Territory as well as make energy prices more affordable across the country.
“It is time for the Gunner Government to stop holding back the NT economy and end this silly moratorium.”