Search

Senate committee into Darwin's Middle Arm development fails to make recommendations

Dechlan Brennan -

A final report into Darwin's Middle Arm industrial hub has not offered recommendations from the major parties.

It comes as Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe reiterated her calls for the project to be scrapped, echoing calls by the Greens and crossbench that the project is a risk to the health of people and ecosystems in the NT.

The final report from a Senate committee examining the project failed to agree on any recommendations on the project that is estimated to bring in $200-$700 million in annual taxes for the NT, as well as between $700 million and $2.4 billion for the federal government, but has been highly criticised by environmental experts and Indigenous groups.

Senator Thorpe said if the project went ahead, it would be an "ecocidal disaster" that would negatively impact the Larrakia people.

"It's disappointing that this committee wasn't able to agree to a single recommendation, despite the alarming evidence we heard about the destruction and pollution this project will create," the Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurring senator said.

"The Larrakia People were unanimous in asserting that no Free, Prior and Informed Consent has been obtained for the project and that their concerns have been ignored by both the NT and federal Labor governments."

Lidia Thorpe is critical of the Middle Arm project. (Image: (Image: Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

In their own comments, government Senators said the project was an "important way of diversifying industry in the Northern Territory and setting up our economy for a sustainable future", and cited comments from NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler that Middle Arm would create "20,000 direct and indirect jobs for Territorians into the future".

There has been controversy surrounding Middle Arm because it has been labelled a sustainable development despite being linked to new gas projects, with Ms Lawler previously declining to rule out if her government would support a petrochemicals industry.

She told the inquiry in April: "Middle Arm provides the opportunity for energy for industry…whether it's renewables or its gas (LNG)".

Handed down days before the NT election, the Greens called for governments to ensure free, prior, and informed consent is obtained from Larrakia people for any development in the area.

Greens Senator Sara Hanson-Young said the project would "wreck Darwin Harbour, harm human health and fuel dangerous climate change", whilst Independent Senator David Pocock said Commonwealth funding for the project "should not proceed until the results of the human health impact assessment, covering each operation proposed to operate at the precinct, are known".

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has supported projects such as Middle Arm. (Image: Michael Franchi/ABC News)

In additional comments from the Coalition Senators, which included opposition Indigenous spokesperson Jacinta Nampijinpa Price as a participating member, they said they remained supportive of the Middle Arm project because it would bring economic development and finances to the NT.

They said they were "disappointed" there wasn't a broader range of witnesses and views canvassed during the inquiry, claimed witnesses were intimidated and assaulted at hearings, and argued that the "behaviours and opinions at hearings were not reflective of the broader Northern Territory community".

Senator Price had previously been highly critical of the hearings taking place, and said the process gave a voice to "those who are hellbent on destroying the Northern Territory's economy and opportunities for our most marginalised, Indigenous Australians".

She has long argued that economic development is needed to improve Indigenous lives and has been critical of organisations or groups that have stood in the way of these developments.

"The rest of the country somehow seem to think that we should be kept as museum pieces here in northern Australia, that we should not be allowed to progress and move forward with the rest of the world to create economic opportunities (and) economic independence," the NT Senator said in April.

However, a multitude of Indigenous groups and members have come out against the project.

The Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation, which represents Native Title holders from the Beetaloo Basin, said they were against fracking in the region.

Nurrdalinji Director and Djingili Elder, Janet Gregory who is from Elliott in the Beetaloo, said fracking and sending gas to the Middle Arm hub was made by governments and organisations that cared more about the project "than the lives of our people and our future".

"They have dollar signs in front of their eyes as if we, our country, culture and language don't exist," she said.

Fellow Djingili Elder and Nurrdalinji Chair, Samuel Janama Sandy, said the NT should be frack free, and no public money should be used for Middle Arm.

"Public funding for Middle Arm could be better spent on housing, education, health and clean energy for our communities," Mr Sandy said.

Larrakia Elder Eric Fejo said he was "gravely concerned about the future of my Country" if the project went ahead.

"It is culturally unsafe. It will involve interfering with land that is sacred," he said.

"As a person with knowledge and authority to speak for Country, there has not been adherence to the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent from First Nations people."

   Related   

   Dechlan Brennan   

Download our App

Article Audio

National Indigenous Times