Campaign launched for fracking vote

The campaign features a television advertisement and webpage frackvote.com where Territorians are encouraged to sign on and show their support for a binding vote on a fracking ban.

The campaign will raise signatures ahead of the release of the Fracking Inquiry’s report in late March to demonstrate Territorians’ investment in the outcome of the fracking decision.

Daniel Tapp, whose family story features in the television advertisement, said, “With thousands of square kilometres of cattle stations and communities covered in licences for gas fracking we think it’s too important an issue to leave it up to the politicians.

“A Gunner Government decision that goes against the views of the majority of Territorians will set our communities up for ongoing conflict with the shale gas industry, so it’s important to get this right.”

“A referendum on fracking would let every Territorian have a say in our future.”

Territory filmmaker and author Phil O’Brien has thrown his weight behind the campaign, saying, “I've been following this debate on fracking for a long time now. I see the impact its having on our communities and a lot of us are starting to get worried. We don’t want to see the Territory plundered for outside interests, leaving problems behind.”

“There’s still a chance for the Territory to throw the threat of fracking out the window and move on to find other new exciting industries and projects that we can all share in the benefits of. We need to be unifying our communities rather than dividing.”

Owner of Seven Emu Station in the Gulf, and 2018 NT Australian of the Year Nominee for Indigenous mentoring, Frank Shadforth, said,

“Alongside cattle, our family run a successful wildlife conservation programto protect threatened species, and a bush tucker harvesting business.”

“Putting gasfields over the top would put all that at risk, including the jobs of many of our local Aboriginal cattle station and conservation workers.”

“We’re worried the NT Government hasn’t been listening, so it’s time to give the people of the Territory a say in the future protection of our land and livelihoods.”