Protect Country Alliance will join numerous other groups in Darwin who care about the future of the planet tomorrow to denounce the “complete insanity” of a two day oil gas conference being held at a time when urgent action to mitigate the climate crisis is required.
Groups including Protect Country Alliance, Australian Parents for Climate Action Darwin branch, Climate Action Darwin, the Environment Centre NT, and others will demonstrate against the deals being cut and the projects being promoted during the SEAAOC Conference at the Darwin Convention Centre.
“The gas and oil giants set to appear at the SEAAOC Conference this week are driving the climate crisis that is making the Territory hotter and ultimately less liveable,” said Protect Country Alliance spokesperson Graeme Sawyer.
“It’s sadly ironic that they should gather here, in one of Australia’s cities that is most at risk from the catastrophic impacts of runaway climate change, to promote their dirty work.
“No doubt these executives will be eager to congratulate the NT Gunner Government for bending over backwards to encourage the polluting fracking in the Territory.
“The Gunner Government and the Federal Government have wastefully donated millions of taxpayer dollars to fracking companies, and are looking set to backflip on the promise to require fracking companies to offset their domestic emissions.
“In the last few months alone the Gunner Government has given final approvals to Empire Energy and Santos fracking projects, despite fierce opposition from local communities, Traditional Owners, and landholders.
“These approvals have been granted despite the fact all the required baseline environmental studies (SREBA) have not yet been completed.
“The limited studies that have been completed reveal rich underground ecosystems and connectedness of water aquifers across vast distances, highlighting what would be lost in the likely event the fracking industry causes a contamination disaster.
“We will make sure the oil and gas giants who come to Darwin for this conference, and their political supporters, are fully aware the Territory public is staunchly opposed to their plans to pollute the NT and endanger the planet.”
ENDS