The Environment Centre NT has slammed the Albanese Government's announcement that the Federal Budget will commit $1.5 billion for the Middle Arm Petrochemicals Hub in Darwin Harbour.
Co-Director of the Environment Centre NT Kirsty Howey says,
"Funding the Middle Arm Industrial Precinct is a broken promise by the Albanese Government. Labor MPs have indicated that a Labor Government won't fund new oil and gas projects, and that's exactly what the Middle Arm Petrochemicals Precinct is."
"There's absolutely nothing sustainable about the Middle Arm Project. It's about toxic petrochemicals and plastics production in Darwin Harbour using fracked gas from the Beetaloo Basin."
"The Minister's commitment of funding for the Middle Arm Industrial Precinct is simply shovelling huge amounts of taxpayer funds to the climate-wrecking fossil fuel industry. The Albanese Government can't have it both ways: you can't take action on climate and fund climate-destroying projects like Middle Arm."
"A major report released by ECNT by US environmental scientist Dr Michael Petroni modelled the likely impacts of this precinct and found there could be devastating health and harbour impacts if it goes ahead, including an increase in industrial air pollution of over 500%. It's dangerous for the people of Darwin."
"It's premature in the extreme to commit this funding now. There's been no cost benefit analysis, no environmental impact assessment, and it's not supported by the people of the Northern Territory. It will be a disaster for climate and health and the taxpayers should not be funding it."
"The Middle Arm petrochemical hub will transform Darwin into another cancer alley, with toxic industries located just three kilometres away from residential areas."
