Tanya Plibersek has asked a government scientific panel to examine whether contentious fracking plans in the Northern Territory’s vast Beetaloo gas basin south-east of Darwin would damage water resources.
Greens, independent MPs and environment groups have urged the Albanese government to use expanded “water trigger” powers that were added to environment laws last year to call in a specific Beetaloo Basin development – Tamboran Resources’ Shenandoah South pilot project – for federal assessment.
