A controversial mining and manufacturing project will help the Northern Territory realise its dreams to “stand on its own two feet” but locals may have to put up with a petrochemical plant on the site to make it happen.
Chief Minister Eva Lawler would not rule out the possibility petrochemical processing would be a part of the Middle Arm development near Darwin at a Senate inquiry into the project on Thursday.
During a testy hearing in the Top End, ACT Senator David Pocock pressed Ms Lawler on inconsistencies in her government’s position on the contentious proposal, which also includes gas processing, green hydrogen and carbon capture facilities.
“We’ve heard the former chief minister (Natasha Fyles), the prime minister (Anthony Albanese) say there’ll be no petrochemicals processing on Middle Arm,” Senator Pocock said.
“Your department is taking that into account when it comes to the air quality envelope. So could there be petrochemical processes?”
“I won’t rule it out,” Ms Lawler finally said after prodding.
Senator Pocock has previously slammed the inclusion of petrochemicals at Middle Arm, saying it would turn Darwin into “Australia’s very own Cancer Alley”.
Doctors against the proposal have cited international studies alleging petrochemical plants result in a 30 per cent increased risk of leukaemia, which predominantly affects children, for populations within 5km.
A fiery exchange between Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe and Ms Lawler drew multiple calls for order from committee chair Sarah Hanson-Young, after the NT chief minister filibustered her way past a question on whether her government had received free, prior and informed consent from traditional owners.
“There is no native title on that site and so that land is crown land or land that’s owned by the Land Development Corporation in Northern Territory,” Ms Lawler said.
“Land for all Territorians.”
Ms Lawler maintained the Middle Arm proposal was safe and its benefits outweighed risks.
The project would reap $200-$700 million in annual taxes for the Territory, as well as between $700 million and $2.4 billion for the federal government, according to modelling by consulting firm EY.
“So when we’re quibbling over a $1.5 billion investment by the federal government in equity into this project … I think that’s a pretty good damn investment,” the chief minister said.
“Something like 70 per cent of our roads in the territory are still dirt. You can bituminise more roads in the Northern Territory if you have more income, you can enlarge your footprint around health care, around education as well.
“A good government works to be able to stand on its own two feet and that is the dream of the Northern Territory, that one day we won’t be reliant on constant federal funding.”
Traditional owners who have voiced their opposition to the project, including the Nurrdalinji Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, are due to give evidence before the inquiry later on Thursday.
This post was originally published on Michael West.