Territorians are gobsmacked after the NT’s Deputy Chief Minister enthusiastically quoted Donald Trump’s “drill baby drill” slogan during question time in NT Parliament today. Video of the comments is available here.
Gerard Maley’s comments come less than a day after the CLP Government passed its controversial “Territory Coordinator” Bill, giving an unelected bureaucrat extraordinary powers, including the ability to override a host of existing laws designed to protect communities and the environment.
Tomorrow, the CLP Government is expected to pass additional laws that will further erode Territorians’ ability to challenge big projects, with the stripping of community objection rights.
Frack Free NT Darwin-based spokesperson Pete Callender said, “The Territory Coordinator Bill was designed to give big multinational businesses a free ride to avoid laws and protections that Territorians rely on to stay safe.
“Territorians should have a right to have a say when it comes to big projects that will threaten their way of life.
“Community review rights are important because they give ordinary people the chance to stand up for what’s important, make sure decisions are being made properly, and protect against bias and corruption.
“In the week the CLP strips away those rights, Gerard Maley standing up in Parliament and quoting Donald Trump while telling anyone who disagrees with him to ‘get on a plane’ and that they are ‘not welcome here’ really exposes the CLP’s attitude towards the NT community and the supposed safeguards for our environment.
“Territorians expect their politicians to stand up for their rights and interests, not to simply roll out the red carpet for fracking companies in a sad attempt to copy someone from the other side of the world who has never even been here.
“Fracking projects threaten our land, water, health, and climate. Fracking exacerbates climate change which poses a major threat to the livability of the NT.
“Territorians deserve better. They deserve to have their basic rights respected and they deserve better laws than the Territory Coordinator Bill.”
ENDS