Minister King: Stop $3.5billion in public money for Middle Arm
New documents reveal the shocking true cost of the Middle Arm gas hub is more than double the public money earmarked by the Albanese Government in the budget.
Over $3.5 billion in public money could be poured into the gas processing and export facility. Traditional Owners from across the NT have been staunchly fighting this move that will open the Beetaloo basin to fracking.1
But the deal isn't done yet. Right now, the Northern Territory Government and Chief Minister Fyles are asking for additional funding through Infrastructure Australia for the project.
And the fate of that decision lies with Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King. If thousands of us flood Minister Kings inbox in this critical moment, we can make the resounding call to ditch funding for this disastrous project loud and clear.
Will you email Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King and tell her not to spend billions on the Middle Arm Gas hub?
Over $3.5 billion in public money could be poured into the gas processing and export facility. Traditional Owners from across the NT have been staunchly fighting this move that will open the Beetaloo basin to fracking.1
But the deal isn't done yet. Right now, the Northern Territory Government and Chief Minister Fyles are asking for additional funding through Infrastructure Australia for the project.
And the fate of that decision lies with Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King. If thousands of us flood Minister Kings inbox in this critical moment, we can make the resounding call to ditch funding for this disastrous project loud and clear.
Will you email Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King and tell her not to spend billions on the Middle Arm Gas hub?
Make it personal
Add why you're personally concerned about the Middle Arm gas hub and public fundings for fracking. You could talk about climate impact such as bushfires or heat waves. You can add where you live and better ways to spend public money. The more personal you make it, the more impactful.
Change the subject line
To make your email stand out, come up with your own subject line, be sure to keep it polite and relevant.
Be polite and respectful
It's important to be polite and respectful in your email so that it's taken seriously and into consideration. The Albanese government and Minister King have the opportunity to stand with Traditional Owners and communities, we want to push them to take action by providing the path forward.
Add why you're personally concerned about the Middle Arm gas hub and public fundings for fracking. You could talk about climate impact such as bushfires or heat waves. You can add where you live and better ways to spend public money. The more personal you make it, the more impactful.
Change the subject line
To make your email stand out, come up with your own subject line, be sure to keep it polite and relevant.
Be polite and respectful
It's important to be polite and respectful in your email so that it's taken seriously and into consideration. The Albanese government and Minister King have the opportunity to stand with Traditional Owners and communities, we want to push them to take action by providing the path forward.
For a government that was elected on a platform centred around strong climate action, their 2023 Federal Budget was a let down, with millions in new public funding for gas.2
There were some positive bits for climate and communities, such as the Household electrification package (a good start to help people save money by getting off expensive, polluting gas), and the National Net Zero Authority (an important win for Australia's energy workers, their families and communities, and for the climate).
But in general, this budget does not meet the ambition on which the Albanese Government was elected upon, nor which communities and the climate crisis calls for. Communities are still reeling off the back of disastrous floods, and we are heading into another likely bushfire season. When living on the frontlines of climate disasters like these, any budget that doesn't completely remove Morrison-era fossil fuel subsidies and invest in community solutions and resilience is a failed budget.
In addition to $1.9 billion in public funding for the Middle Arm gas hub that would fast-track fracking in the Beetaloo Basin, they've confirmed $214.9 million in Morrison-era handouts for gas industry roads.
The new documents reveal a further $2 billion in the pipeline for the next budget, bringing the total cost of the Middle Arm gas hub to a staggering $3.5 billion.3 But there's still time to stop this proposed funding from making it into the next budget.
It's up to us, the GetUp movement, to work with Traditional Owners and allies across the sector in stopping fossil fuels once and for all. And that means stopping Middle Arm. Will you email key decision-makers today?
There were some positive bits for climate and communities, such as the Household electrification package (a good start to help people save money by getting off expensive, polluting gas), and the National Net Zero Authority (an important win for Australia's energy workers, their families and communities, and for the climate).
But in general, this budget does not meet the ambition on which the Albanese Government was elected upon, nor which communities and the climate crisis calls for. Communities are still reeling off the back of disastrous floods, and we are heading into another likely bushfire season. When living on the frontlines of climate disasters like these, any budget that doesn't completely remove Morrison-era fossil fuel subsidies and invest in community solutions and resilience is a failed budget.
In addition to $1.9 billion in public funding for the Middle Arm gas hub that would fast-track fracking in the Beetaloo Basin, they've confirmed $214.9 million in Morrison-era handouts for gas industry roads.
The new documents reveal a further $2 billion in the pipeline for the next budget, bringing the total cost of the Middle Arm gas hub to a staggering $3.5 billion.3 But there's still time to stop this proposed funding from making it into the next budget.
It's up to us, the GetUp movement, to work with Traditional Owners and allies across the sector in stopping fossil fuels once and for all. And that means stopping Middle Arm. Will you email key decision-makers today?
The Middle Arm development is a gas industry plan for a massive port and industrial hub on Darwin Harbour.
The ABC obtained the NT Government's original business case for Middle Arm through freedom of information requests. It details how the new hub would pump out petrochemicals using fracked Beetaloo gas that steamrolls the consent of Traditional Owners.4
Frackers and gas lobbyists celebrated when nearly $2 billion in public funding was announced in the October budget.5
After GetUp members – together with Traditional Owners and local campaigners – snapped into action to challenge the subsidy, the Albanese Government greenwashed the project as "sustainable".6 And the NT government quietly scrubbed the word "petrochemicals" from the Middle Arm website.7
It's shrouded in controversy and secrecy, and has dire consequences for Traditional Owners, surrounding communities, and our climate.
Together we won a Senate inquiry into the Middle Arm gas hub, with hearings and recommendations due in the first half of 2024.
The ABC obtained the NT Government's original business case for Middle Arm through freedom of information requests. It details how the new hub would pump out petrochemicals using fracked Beetaloo gas that steamrolls the consent of Traditional Owners.4
Frackers and gas lobbyists celebrated when nearly $2 billion in public funding was announced in the October budget.5
After GetUp members – together with Traditional Owners and local campaigners – snapped into action to challenge the subsidy, the Albanese Government greenwashed the project as "sustainable".6 And the NT government quietly scrubbed the word "petrochemicals" from the Middle Arm website.7
It's shrouded in controversy and secrecy, and has dire consequences for Traditional Owners, surrounding communities, and our climate.
Together we won a Senate inquiry into the Middle Arm gas hub, with hearings and recommendations due in the first half of 2024.
[1] Darwin Harbour Middle Arm expansion plan slammed by critics as 'extraordinary fossil fuel subsidy', ABC News, 15 December 2023.
[2] $2.5 billion infrastructure boost for the Northern Territory, The Hon Catherine King MP, 16 October 2022.
[3] Darwin Harbour Middle Arm expansion plan slammed by critics as 'extraordinary fossil fuel subsidy', ABC News, 15 December 2023.
[4] Business case for Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct triggers climate concerns from critics, ABC News, 29 December 2022.
[5] Media Release: Booming oil and gas public contribution at risk from energy policy changes, APPEA, 25 October 2022.
[6] NT government deletes references to 'petrochemicals' from Middle Arm website, rejects 'greenwashing' claims, ABC News, 26 November 2022.
[7] See Reference 6.
[2] $2.5 billion infrastructure boost for the Northern Territory, The Hon Catherine King MP, 16 October 2022.
[3] Darwin Harbour Middle Arm expansion plan slammed by critics as 'extraordinary fossil fuel subsidy', ABC News, 15 December 2023.
[4] Business case for Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct triggers climate concerns from critics, ABC News, 29 December 2022.
[5] Media Release: Booming oil and gas public contribution at risk from energy policy changes, APPEA, 25 October 2022.
[6] NT government deletes references to 'petrochemicals' from Middle Arm website, rejects 'greenwashing' claims, ABC News, 26 November 2022.
[7] See Reference 6.