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The Guardian - Back to homeThe Guardian

The Top End carbon bomb

How the Northern Territory became the frontline for a Labor-backed fossil fuel expansion amid a climate crisis

23 April 2024

  • Beetaloo Station

    NT government deal to buy Beetaloo Basin gas from US company labelled ‘carbon bomb’

    Climate groups criticise nine-year agreement with Tamboran Resources, while chief minister says it will provide ‘competitively priced gas’ for the territory

10 April 2024

  • Middle Arm

    Charles Darwin University asked inquiry not to publish staff submissions critical of its support for harbour project

    In letter vice-chancellor requested committee not publish joint submission by two academics and redact parts of second submission ‘unfairly’ critical of CDU

4 December 2023

  • A LNG gas processing facility in Darwin.

    ‘Betrayed’: NT communities angered after learning only industry was consulted on scrapped net zero policy

    Advocates say territory government choice to only consult directly with fossil fuel companies before walking away from emissions laws is ‘bitterly disappointing’

3 December 2023

  • A gas LNG ship near Darwin harbour

    Net zero policy for new gas projects abandoned after industry objected

    Exclusive: The gas industry was the only stakeholder consulted before policy proposal was ditched by the Northern Territory government, FoI documents show

5 September 2023

  • The Senate will investigate the proposed development of the Middle Arm precinct on Darwin harbour. The government has been under pressure from the Greens and crossbench to drop $1.5bn in financial support for the project

    Senate to investigate controversial Middle Arm development amid calls for ‘closer scrutiny’

    Move follows revelations Albanese government knew project was seen as ‘key enabler’ for gas export despite being branded a ‘sustainable development precinct’

3 August 2023

  • The teals, Sophie Scamps, Zoe Daniel, Allegra Spender and Monique Ryan at the start of question time

    Teal MPs criticise CO2 sea dumping bill as ‘greenwashing’ fossil fuel industry

    Independent MPs Monique Ryan and Sophie Scamps say the Labor bill to allow permits for storing carbon dioxide in international waters would encourage more gas projects

2 July 2023

  • A rainbow appears as a storm builds over the Ichthy's onshore gas processing facility on Middle Arm in Darwin Harbour. For Northern Territory gas project. Photograph by Mike Bowers. Sunday 19th March 2023. Guardian Australia.

    The Albanese government and the Top End carbon bomb – Full Story podcast

    Environment reporter Lisa Cox on the Northern Territory gas projects the Albanese government has labelled as ‘sustainable’, and others a vast fossil fuel project

29 June 2023

  • Kirsty Howey, of the Environment Centre NT, said she feared the changes would be used to help expand gas projects such as Santos’ Barossa offshore project, which it has proposed will include an offshore CCS facility

    Australian sea dumping law changes condemned amid warnings of gas industry expansion

    Greens and environmentalists say legislation introduced to parliament by Tanya Plibersek could facilitate new fossil fuel projects

21 June 2023

  • Dennis Murphy Tipakalippa standing on a beach

    ‘We will win’: Tiwi Islanders draw a line in the sand against Santos gas project and ‘white fella rule’

    There is hope on the Tiwi Islands after a landmark court case forced company to consult traditional owners

19 June 2023

  • Djingili elder Samuel Sandy with his great grandson Henry.

    ‘We need help’: traditional owners accuse land council of ‘facilitating fracking’

  • Traditional owner Janet Gregory.

    I feel responsible for my role in fracking agreements signed long ago. But I won’t stop fighting to save the Beetaloo basin

    Janet Gregory

18 June 2023

  • Darwin’s Middle Arm

    Revealed: documents detail key players behind vast Australian fossil fuel expansion

    Former politicians and executives have propelled the Northern Territory’s Middle Arm hub from dream to likely realisation

8 June 2023

  • A LNG tanker docked at a wharf

    Albanese government knew ‘sustainable’ Darwin harbour project would be used for gas export, documents show

    Briefing materials show the gas industry will benefit from proposed Middle Arm development, which has $1.5bn in federal backing

22 May 2023

  • A road train passes the turnoff to Beetaloo Station on the Stuart Highway north of Elliott in the Northern Territory

    NT government accused of lying about meeting climate condition before it greenlit ‘carbon bomb’ Beetaloo fracking

    Advocates claim new documents are proof the NT government lied when it claimed it had met all climate risk conditions for the massive new gas project

19 May 2023

  • Middle Arm on the Elizabeth River near Darwin

    How is Australia trying to sell a major gas expansion? By badging it ‘sustainable’

    Before Labor invests $1.5bn in Darwin harbour’s Middle Arm precinct, it needs to look beyond the spin

17 May 2023

  • A ship, the Maran Gas Sparta, sits at the wharf at the Darwin LNG gas processing facility on Middle Arm

    Darwin’s ‘sustainable’ Middle Arm development is key to huge fossil fuel projects, documents show

    Exclusive: Middle Arm has been sold as ‘sustainable’ but papers reveal the Albanese government was briefed on the project’s links to new fossil fuel developments, including fracking in the Beetaloo basin

11 May 2023

  • An ancient Indigenous petroglyph and Nigel Browne

    ‘Another Juukan Gorge’: Darwin’s Middle Arm hub threatens Indigenous rock art, traditional owners say

    Exclusive: Larrakia people say they have not been properly consulted on planned industrial precinct, which is near ‘priceless’ cultural site
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