They would do well to remember that many of their electors aren't as sold on shale gas as they are.

Last time we looked, those MPs are supposed to represent their electorates, but sadly, too often, party comes first.

Perhaps it is their efforts behind closed doors in Caucus, or the party-room, which we never hear of. Only they can fix that.

For this Parliament to perform as it should there needs to be close scrutiny of new industries like that being proposed in the NT.

Other states have shied away from onshore gas development, there is an element in bravery in what the NT is attempting.

Bravery or desperation - take your pick.

When the Government and Opposition are in agreement that speed is of the essence in reversing the dire fortunes of the Territory, some things may be missed.

More reading:

Drilling down into the detail.

We welcomed the questions to the Government on fracking from independents this week.

The answers from two Ministers were illuminating and not at all the tarted-up message coming from the bureaucrats.

The rules have been changed.

For a long time now, the NT has been told the government would follow the rules.

They had assembled the best panel of experts they could and spared no expense as the Pepper inquiry produce a blueprint for a dangerous industry to develop safely.

So if we were to follow those 135 recommendations to the letter, as promised by Chief Minister Michael Gunner. All would be well.

Some of the anti-frackers would never be satisfied but for the rest of us there was some reassurance that if we followed these rules exactly the risks would be abated.

Consider this comment from Primary Industry Minister Paul Kirby in Parliament yesterday on this issue.

" ...the scientific approach is not the only approach. We also take our lead from industry as well."

So this is a self-regulating industry which promises to avoid short cuts?

We have honed in on one "reinterpretation" of the Pepper recommendations, only to demonstrate that perhaps there are more.

The proposed code of practice for the industry is not yet ready but the gas companies have already entered the public comment period of their applications to start exploratory drilling.

Surely we are asking the public to weigh their intentions against the rules, which we don't yet have?

The government is looking sneaky.

If the industry has a better idea than Pepper, so sell it to us.

Don't weave it between the many pages of thick documents hoping no-one spots it?

We are nervous enough already about the competence of this Government, please don't make it worse.

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