A headland speech on the economic future of one of Australia's most resource-rich regions contained no reference to one crucial word.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles set out her plan for the Northern Territory and its energy sector during a 20-minute address on Friday.
"In areas like defence, data, energy security, renewables and critical minerals, we are a large part of the answer to some of Australia's biggest economic questions," she said.
Speaking to reporters after the speech, Ms Fyles was grilled on why she did not use the word gas or mention the Beetaloo Basin.
"I talked about energy and the energy security that the NT can provide," she said.
"We're focused around Middle Arm and focused around defence, but absolutely Beetaloo is a part of our story."
The Middle Arm project is a manufacturing hub that will focus on developing green hydrogen, critical minerals and carbon capture technology.
The $1.5 billion development on Darwin Harbour has been described as a key enabler for Beetaloo Basin gas exports.
But the project has been criticised by environmentalists and health experts for enabling fossil fuel expansion, with a Greens-led Senate inquiry set up to investigate the plans.
"We know there are plenty of knockers and blockers who will try to slow us down," Ms Fyles said.
"Because who needs rigorous, world-leading environmental baseline assessments backed by in-depth scientific research when we can have attention-seeking senators on a soapbox?"
The NT government has consistently promoted the economic benefits of the Middle Arm precinct and Beetaloo Basin.
During a recent National Press Club address, the chief minister took aim at "ill-informed" opponents and defended plans to expand the gas industry.
Ms Fyles stood firm on Friday, saying gas must be part of the territory's economic future.
"We have nothing to hide, we've conducted hundreds of assessments and tests to date and there's a huge amount of work that will continue," she said.
"We welcome that scrutiny. But I find it a little ironic that we don't see that scrutiny into states on the east coast."
The Senate committee investigating the Middle Arm project will hand down its report next year.
