Anti-frackers have taken strength from a vote in the NT Parliament yesterday.
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A group of Katherine anti-frackers, who had travelled to Darwin for meetings on the issue, were in the Parliament to hear the Government vote overwhelming against an NT Opposition motion on the issue.
The Government is set to receive a scientific report on the proposed development of onshore gas in the NT within days.
The government said it will decide whether or not to lift a moratorium on shale gas mining.
In parliament yesterday, the Opposition said “a well-regulated on shore shale gas industry presents a tremendous opportunity for the Territory, for the economy and for jobs”.
It presented the following motion:
That the Assembly:
- recognises the tremendous potential of a well-regulated onshore shale gas industry to create significant wealth and ongoing, long term jobs in the Northern Territory; and
- implores the Government to make an immediate decision on the lifting of its moratorium on onshore gas development in order to give the industry certainty, and to unlock this tremendous potential.
Leader of the Opposition, Gary Higgins said it was shameful that only one member of the Labor government bothered to speak on the motion.
“It is shameful that such an important topic for the future of the Territory did not raise any interest beyond the Treasurer, who was the only member of the Labor government to speak on the motion.
“Such a pathetic response by the Labor government makes it pretty clear this government does not care about jobs, does not care about the future of the Territory or care about the economy,” said Mr Higgins.
The motion was soundly defeated along party lines, 18 against, four in favour.