Major oil and gas company Pangaea Resources recently announced its intention to sack 140 workers in Central Australia, citing the uncertainty created by Labor’s onshore gas moratorium.
“The onshore gas industry is just too important and too critical to our economic future to be closed down. Labor can’t even say how long they plan to close the industry for,”? Mr Giles said.
“The NT’s past, present and future is powered by gas. The industry is properly regulated to protect the environment and the Government is continuing to strengthen that process,”? he added.
Mr Giles referred to the Hawke reports, which said there was no scientific evidence to support a moratorium.
“It’s strange that Labor supported Japanese company Inpex but now doesn’t support Australian companies and Australian jobs. I support all investment that creates jobs in the Territory.”?
Mr Giles also drew attention to the fact that the Labor Government opened the gate on 95 per cent of the NT for onshore oil and gas exploration, and approved 33 well activities – two developments that stand in contrast to its current onshore gas moratorium.
Earlier this year, Northern Gas Pipeline proponent Jemena warned that the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in the NT would compromise the project’s economic benefits. Late last year, Palatine Energy was refused an exploration permit in the NT’s Watarrka National Park on the grounds that it conflicts with the NT’s new exploration guidelines.
In its new guidelines, the NT Government advised that it will not grant acreage release and exploration permits where there is a land use conflict.