The outcome of a Senate inquiry into a Northern Territory gas field is uncertain following months-long delays and the commencement of a new federal parliament.
The final report was due to be handed down on Tuesday after delays, but with the introduction of a new parliament, it is now up in the air.When a new parliament begins, all outstanding inquiries that were not concluded by the end of the previous parliament automatically lapse, leaving the new committees to decide whether to continue with inquiries or to drop them.
Traditional owner Johnny Wilson, who lives within 20 kilometres of fracking wells in the Beetaloo and chairs the Nurrdalinji Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, was among those who gave evidence at a public hearing in Darwin this year. "Many people — pastoralists, land owners, cattlemen — put in lots of time and effort to be there, because there are big issues at stake," he said.
"The public deserves a final report and recommendations, because the Morrison government has spent millions of dollars supporting gas companies to drill and frack our country, and the new Labor government has said nothing about whether they are going to do the same."Kirsty Howey, co-director of the Environment Centre NT, said it was "absolutely critical" the new parliament continued with the Beetaloo Basin inquiry.
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