The NT must keep the door firmly closed to fracking

No amount of legislation or voluntary code can prevent accidents, flooding and spilling of containment pools, or casing failure, which cause leaks. NT is at particular risk because of our extreme climate. This is may be exacerbated by climate change, with the likelihood of increasing floodsand cyclone intensity.

Experience elsewhere demonstrates contamination occurs despite the best efforts of companies and communities. Attempts to draw attention to a leaknear Broome were silenced. The NT has a poor record of enforcing regulation, ensuring compensation to affected communitiesand rehabilitation of sites damaged by extractive industries. Our culture of relaxed attitudes to regulation, and a focus on mateship and relationships could leave future generations at great risk.

Doctors are also particularly concerned about the contribution that fracking for unconventional gas will have on climate change, the greatest threat to public health this century.

Gas extracted through fracking – methane- has as much greenhouse gas per unit energy as coal when the full life cycle is considered. Methane is the second largest greenhouse gas contributor to climate change after CO₂. Methane's global warming potential is more than 86 times that of CO₂ over a 20-year period, and 34 times that of CO₂over a 100-year period. Gas leakage can occur during the extraction, production, processing, storage, transmission and distribution of natural gas.

How do we best respond to such profound threats to our health and land from fracking?

The precautionary principle urges caution when considering risks to human health and the environment that supports us. Invoking this principle can lead to better health outcomes for the community, economic development that supports rather than places human lives at risk and to striking innovation opportunities. For example, NT has immense capacity for renewable energy, including solar and wind, and it could be a global leader in clean energy technology.