Disagreement emerged among senior ministers in the Albanese government over the approval process of a controversial Northern Territory gas pipeline, as revealed by an internal document obtained under freedom of information laws. The document, from the environment department in February, disclosed that the agriculture minister, Julie Collins, and the Indigenous affairs minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, had expressed concerns about the potential impact of the Sturt Plateau pipeline’s construction on threatened species and First Nations communities.
Environment officials argued that the pipeline, which is planned to link a fracking operation in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo gas basin with an existing pipeline, would likely have significant environmental implications, including the clearance of “high-quality habitat” for the critically endangered northern blue-tongued skink. Despite the concerns, the then environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, concluded that the pipeline did not require a national environmental impact statement.
The document also revealed disagreement amongst ministers regarding the full assessment of the project, with some advocating for a comprehensive examination due to the potential impact on species habitat and the cumulative effects alongside a related fracking project. However, a delegate for the resources minister, Madeleine King, supported APA Group’s stance that the pipeline did not need a full environmental assessment.
Critics such as Hannah Ekin from the Arid Lands Environment Centre argue that the decision-making process prioritized the interests of the gas industry over environmental and Indigenous concerns, particularly noting the importance of assessing the pipeline’s effectiveness in conjunction with the fracking project it’s aimed to serve.
Indigenous groups have opposed the pipeline, voicing concerns about the effects of fracking on “water supplies and aquifers, the environment, culture, sacred sites and songlines.” Meanwhile, the grassroots organization Lock the Gate Alliance and others have taken legal action to challenge the project, seeking a full assessment by the environment minister.
The controversy over the pipeline highlights broader tensions surrounding environmental policies and the balancing of development with ecological and Indigenous rights, with critics warning of potential environmental disasters if projects are not thoroughly assessed and regulated.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/22/federal-labor-ministers-at-odds-over-contentious-nt-gas-pipeline-decision-internal-document-shows-ntwnfb
