As The Guardian reports, Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has asked a government scientific panel to examine whether contentious fracking plans in the Northern Territory’s vast Beetaloo gas basin south-east of Darwin would damage water resources.
Greens, independent MPs and environment groups have urged the Albanese government to use expanded “water trigger” powers that were added to environment laws last year to call in a specific Beetaloo Basin development – Tamboran Resources’ Shenandoah South pilot project – for federal assessment.
Instead, the environment minister has asked the government-appointed Independent Scientific Expert Committee to provide advice about the potential impact of gas exploration on water resources in the 28,000 sq km basin. Plibersek could formally call in the Tamboran and other projects for assessment under national law, depending on the advice.
