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Opening up the Beetaloo Basin has been identified as a priority in
the Federal government's "gas-led recovery". (Supplied: Empire Energy) |
Key Points
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The Environment Centre NT and the Environmental Defenders Office have filed urgent legal action against Minister for Resources and Water, Keith Pitt, alleging he did not consider the potential risk to climate change or Australia's obligations under the Paris Agreement in his bid to expedite gas exploration in the Beetaloo Basin.
Earlier this month, the minister awarded three grants totalling $21 million to energy company Imperial Oil and Gas, a subsidiary of Empire Energy, to support three new exploration wells and "create thousands of jobs".
Documents filed in the Federal Court show lawyers will argue Mr Pitt failed to act in a way that was "reasonable, rational and logical".
Co-director of the Environment Centre NT (ENCT), Dr Kirsty Howey, said the grants were an irresponsible use of public funds.
"We want to see taxpayers money used wisely and with all the consequences being fully considered," she said."Granting $21 million to a private fossil fuel company should only be done after all care is taken to examine the impacts on climate change, the environment and the community.
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Environment Centre NT co-director Kirsty Howey is asking the
government to pause the grants program while the legal challenge takes
its course. (ABC: Dane Hirst)
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Minister Pitt condemned the lawsuit as a threat to thousands of jobs.
"This is another example of activists using the courts with baseless allegations to try and delay a nationally important resources project," he said.
"This latest case of green "lawfare" declared on legitimate projects threatens to delay an estimated 6000 new jobs being delivered for the Northern Territory along with around $37 billion on economic activity."The Environmental Defenders Office, running the case on behalf of the ECNT, said the court battle would examine if proper process was followed when awarding the grants.
"Before making a decision to grant these funds, the relevant minister needed to make reasonable inquiries into a range of risks, including climate and economic risks, that may arise from the expenditure," Environmental Defenders Office chief executive David Morris said.
"We will argue on behalf of our client that the federal government did not make these reasonable inquiries, and thus the minister's decision is invalid."
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The decision by Minister Keith Pitt, pictured with NT Environment
Minister Eva Lawler, is facing a new legal challenge from the
Environment Centre NT. (ABC News: Michael Donnelly) |
The grants were awarded as part of the $50 million Beetaloo co-operative drilling program, first announced by Mr Pitt and NT CLP Senator Sam McMahon in December last year.
Mr Pitt said the grants were administered in line with proper process.
"Grants are provided to companies that possess the highly specialised skills to meet the challenges of developing the Basin as determined by an expert assessment panel," he said.
Empire Energy declined a request by the ABC to comment on the legal action, but at a senate hearing on Wednesday said it had not yet received the grant money.
The Environment Centre NT has called on the minister to halt the grants until the matter has been considered by the court.
Links
- (AU ABC) Human Rights Issue Or 'Green Lawfare'? Citizens Take To The Courts To Fight Climate Change
- (Legal) Climate Change Cases Doubled Past Six Years
- (AU ABC Law Report) Climate Change Litigation
- (AU The Guardian) 'One More Mine Does Make A Difference’: Australian Children Argue For The Climate – And The Law Agrees
- (AU The Guardian) Australian Government To Appeal Ruling That It Must Protect Children From Climate Harm
- (AU The Guardian) Australian Government Must Protect Young People From Climate Crisis Harm, Court Declares
- (AU SBS) In A Critical Year For Climate Justice, These Torres Strait Islanders Are Leading The Fight
- Lethal Heating: Legal Posts
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