The Greens have reiterated their call on Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to do her job and call in Tamboran Resources' fracking project in the Beetaloo Basin under the Water Trigger, in response to the Environment Centre NT filing an urgent application to stop the gas company from drilling without an environmental water assessment.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment and Water, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
"If Minister Plibersek did her job, the community wouldn't have to take legal action to try to protect surface water and aquifers in the Beetaloo.
"It is shocking that gas fracking cowboys have started drilling with zero environmental water assessments.
"It is disgraceful that the Minister is leaving it to communities on the frontline of environmental destruction to do the government's job and make sure all assessments are completed before any work starts.
"The Minister's request for scientific advice from IESC isn't good enough. A recent presentation to IESC made it clear aquifers in the Beetaloo are 'highly susceptible to contamination or drawdown from activities that support shale gas extraction'.
"Drilling must be stopped right now until a full assessment under the Water Trigger is completed. The Parliament gave the Minister expanded water trigger powers last year precisely for this purpose.
"I urge the Minister to do the right thing, right now - call this dangerous fracking project in, look at the science, and listen to the communities and Traditional Owners who have been pleading with you to protect their water - the lifeblood of the NT."
