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Grants to Fracking companies

A Federal Senate Inquiry has uncovered shocking evidence of the potential serious mishandling of public money for fracking. The Federal Government wants to give away $50 million in grants to fracking companies in the NT. 

We’ve learned that Traditional Owners’ voices and concerns have been continuously sidelined, all while Liberal Party donors are set to receive millions of dollars to frack the NT.

As Traditional Owner Johnny Wilson said to the Senate Inquiry: “If I had my way I'd say take it and shove it. My country is worth more than $50 million. My country is life. Please give us a fair go. Please, we are begging with our grieving hearts.”

“Just like the other Traditional Owners on Country, we are struggling to even get the basic maintenance for our land, for our community, and yet the government is willing to pour so much money into destroying our country.”

If you can think of a better way to spend $50 million in the NT, then we need you to take action. 

Australian Senators have an important decision to make in the coming days. They have the power to disallow, to stop, the fracking grants going from the Federal Government to fracking companies. 

Can you contact Federal Senators across the country who can stop these terrible fracking grants? Please leave a message with their office or send them an email and let them know: 

  • Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and the Senate Committee have shown leadership in investigating the dodgy NT fracking grants and hearing from impacted Traditional Owners.
  • The inquiry found many Traditional Owners have not been consulted and do not consent to fracking on their Country.
  • The money could be so much better spent! Hospitals and schools in the Northern Territory are desperate for upgrades, private fracking companies don’t need our money.
  • Fracking company Empire Energy is set to get a whopping $21 million in public funds…  and their board and shareholders include major Liberal party donors.
  • Empire Energy had undisclosed meetings with the Government, all before the fracking grants were announced.
  • Please do the right thing for Australian taxpayers and all Territorians and disallow the Beetaloo fracking grants.

Senator Contact Numbers and email– Labor and Crossbench (click to view)

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Showing 11 reactions

  • murray horne
    commented 2021-05-31 20:10:32 +1000
  • Bernadette McPhee
    commented 2021-05-31 17:52:51 +1000
    called all senators in Victoria, my home state (though Jess Walsh 9381 5548 phone congested so I called (02) 6277 3744

    and got through); Additionally I have called senators in NT, SA, & ACT ; I called most Queensland senators and emailed senator Green on request ([email protected]) and emialed senator Hanson via her contact form via https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contact_Senator_or_Member?MPID=BK6 . I have since emailed all Tasmanian , WA an NSW Senators . Done it took a couple of hours. Solidarity with First Nations peoples. Perhaps give us to option to email to please. Thanks Lock the Gate Alliance for all that you do.
  • Barbara Darvall
    commented 2021-05-31 17:22:34 +1000
    Left a message about supporting traditional owners, not wanting the damage, and about the fugitive emissions making fracking as bad as coal.
  • John C
    commented 2021-05-31 16:45:47 +1000
    Why are we insisting of supporting Coal and Gas and subsidising these companies. Australia is the leader in solar panel installed in homes. Why not go to the next stage which is installing batteries and public electric car chargers. Australia should lead the world in this. We are getting more and more backwards in terms of technology and still keen to support old tech. Lets change for the sake of the next generation. We gotta moove on.

    I would rather support Lithium mining, eventhough its just as destructive as Coal and gas. How about supporting Hydrogen fuel research?
  • Angela Michaelis
    commented 2021-05-31 15:58:32 +1000
    Left messages for Senators McAllister and O’Neill, NSW, asking that Labor oppose this in Senate.
  • Ilona Harsanyi
    commented 2021-05-31 15:52:47 +1000
    I’m calling on you to vote to disallow the proposed Industry Research and Development (Beetaloo Cooperative Drilling Program) Instrument 2021 which will give $50M in grants to fracking companies in the Northern Territory.

    I stand with Traditional Owners who have spoken out against these fracking grants and the impacts it will have on their communities and country.

    Setting up a special slush fund like this to channel millions of dollars of public money to fracking companies in the NT is improper and should not be allowed.
  • Thong Lee
    commented 2021-05-31 15:10:43 +1000
    Fracking is also against our national interests and security being against the will of the First Nation People foremost and a threat under foreign power domination.
  • D'Arcy Mayo
    commented 2021-05-31 15:06:26 +1000
  • Cheryl Kneipp
    commented 2021-05-31 15:02:29 +1000
    Gas Fracking destroys excellent farming land and our precious but at risk water be it creeks rivers or underground aqua ducts.

    I am extremely proud of the Aboriginal fight to protect mother earth, wildlife and precious water resources. Cheryl K
  • Heather Macauley
    commented 2021-05-31 14:30:28 +1000
    Being an urban farmer, read verbatim, and added that I like many are tired of Politicians who speak from the sides of their mouths, used to vote Labor and have not done so for the past three Federal Elections, voted Greens in lieu. S/with Senator Kim Carr’s office.
  • Peter Shields
    commented 2021-05-31 14:28:49 +1000
    I vote Liberal and Nationals and I don’t want to see fracking anywhere in this country, especially not in the sacred lands of our indigenous people.