Mrs FINOCCHIARO - 2016-02-09
Can you please describe what impact a moratorium on fracking would have on the gas pipeline and investment in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. I know she is concerned as much as I am.
I have just outlined how $2bn worth of investment in the Northern Territory is in jeopardy. The Deloitte’s report into the shale gas industry in the Northern Territory talks about the creation of 6000 jobs in the gas industry alone. They are all gone according to Labor’s proposed moratorium.
I have mentioned the 900 jobs in relation to the construction of the gas pipeline. Let us look at that. That is jobs in the port, the transport industry and developing Tennant Creek. Tennant Creek residents must be very upset at the moment.
How long would this proposed moratorium last, Leader of the Opposition? When Labor does not understand something, it bans it. Look what it did to the live cattle industry. It did not understand it, so banned it and killed an industry, plus the supply chain. You are doing exactly the same thing.
Let us look at what some industry spokespeople said. I talk about private individuals. There is a group called the Stuart Plateau Best Practice Group. Its spokesperson, Mr Keith Holzwart, noted:
That is when they were in government:
How long would your moratorium last, Leader of the Opposition? Is this just to be populous, to get Green preferences or hold the member for Karama at bay in your internal Labor battles? What is it all about, Leader of the Opposition? Why would you, in government, issue gas licences over traditional Aboriginal land and communities such as Maningrida, and tourism places such as Watarrka National Park? Why would you put all of those there and now say you want a moratorium? Is this just populism at the time of an election?
You are jeopardising $2bn worth of investment with 6000 jobs and the extra benefits downstream, plus $1bn in royalties between 2020 and 2040 which we have committed to further education opportunities for Territorians. Shame on you!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. I know she is concerned as much as I am.
I have just outlined how $2bn worth of investment in the Northern Territory is in jeopardy. The Deloitte’s report into the shale gas industry in the Northern Territory talks about the creation of 6000 jobs in the gas industry alone. They are all gone according to Labor’s proposed moratorium.
I have mentioned the 900 jobs in relation to the construction of the gas pipeline. Let us look at that. That is jobs in the port, the transport industry and developing Tennant Creek. Tennant Creek residents must be very upset at the moment.
How long would this proposed moratorium last, Leader of the Opposition? When Labor does not understand something, it bans it. Look what it did to the live cattle industry. It did not understand it, so banned it and killed an industry, plus the supply chain. You are doing exactly the same thing.
Let us look at what some industry spokespeople said. I talk about private individuals. There is a group called the Stuart Plateau Best Practice Group. Its spokesperson, Mr Keith Holzwart, noted:
- For the Labor Party to entice investors in, provide the licences …
That is when they were in government:
- … and then scare the investors away just when the works were about to begin is horribly disappointing.
How long would your moratorium last, Leader of the Opposition? Is this just to be populous, to get Green preferences or hold the member for Karama at bay in your internal Labor battles? What is it all about, Leader of the Opposition? Why would you, in government, issue gas licences over traditional Aboriginal land and communities such as Maningrida, and tourism places such as Watarrka National Park? Why would you put all of those there and now say you want a moratorium? Is this just populism at the time of an election?
You are jeopardising $2bn worth of investment with 6000 jobs and the extra benefits downstream, plus $1bn in royalties between 2020 and 2040 which we have committed to further education opportunities for Territorians. Shame on you!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016