Fracking Long Wait for Gas 

Labor soft-pedals planned cuts
NT News - Friday, 17 Feb 2017 - Page 5

THE Federal Government is pleading for urgency on the fracking moratorium as the NT Treasurer said we would not see the benefits of onshore gas for a decade. 

Nicole Manison has defended the Gunner Government’s decision to maintain a fracking ban after federal politicians including Resources Minister Senator Matt Canavan and Territory Senator Nigel Scullion called for them to “end this silly moratorium.” 

Origin Energy has confirmed an onshore gas discovery five times the size of the Inpex fields. 

A Deloittes Access economics report estimates onshore gas could create 6300 jobs and generate more than $960 million in revenue for the government . 

Ms Manison said the Territory would not see the benefits of onshore gas for a decade if the fracking moratorium was lifted tomorrow. 

“The impression if you allowed fracking tomorrow there would be immediate jobs growth and revenue to the government is wrong,” she said. “Even with a full blown fracking agenda then you won’t see those benefits until 2025. 

“We’ve got the inquiry happening and from that we will make a decision as a government to go forward or have high regulation around it.” 

Senator Canavan urged the Gunner Government to accelerate its fracking inquiry. 

“The Northern Territory needs to create jobs as the Inpex construction winds down,” he said. 

“It’s clear that gas projects could create jobs in the Territory . If the Northern Territory Government wants to create jobs it should conclude its inquiry as soon as possible.” 

Senator Scullion said the Gunner Government was damaging confidence. 

“More than 6000 jobs are at stake here,” he said. 

“Other gas projects have stalled in the NT putting in doubt additional jobs that the Territory desperately needs. Mr Gunner must come to his senses and end this silly moratorium . 

“The Gunner Government is trashing the Territory’s reputation with its gas moratorium and its ham-fisted handling of the economy.” 


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TREASURER Nicole Manison attempted to soft-pedal impending public service job cuts yesterday but could not rule them out entirely, as another internal source called Labor’s planned cost-saving measures “deep cuts and stupid cuts” . 

Ms Manison also opened the door to slashing Government programs to help pay for recently announced spending commitments. 

“We’re not going to be sacking public servants but I have certainly asked ... all the Ministers to work with their agencies as part of the budget development process,” she said. 

When asked repeatedly about the reality of job losses, Ms Manison replied: 

“If there have been programs that have been found that are wasteful, that are not achieving the results they need to see, then by all means they will be some of the saving measures that will be put forward .” 

Ms Manison said discussions with departments were part of the ongoing budget process but would not offer a figure for how much cost savings need to be found. 

“At the moment, that’s what we’re working through,” she said. Ms Manison termed the impending cuts “efficiencies” . 

Opposition leader Gary Higgins said his decade in the public service taught him what that word means. 

“That means cuts — there’s no other way of describing it,” he said. 

“I don’t think (the Treasurer ) is being honest at all. This Government has a Budget problem and sacking public servants is not the answer.” 

Sources in Government and the public service with knowledge of the Labor Government’s planned cuts have told the NT News they will be significant when finally revealed.

“They will be deep cuts and stupid cuts,” said one senior public servant, adding that they will include programs “and the people who run them” . 

It’s understood Labor’s proposed changes will be more than typical new Government talk about “efficiencies” and have been proposed hastily. 

The Government continued to maintain that most of the job losses will be on executive level contracts and natural attrition . 

During Question Time, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said there would be “no sackings” but the only guarantee he could offer employees was that the Government “trusts and values our public service” . 

The Government is facing a bleak fiscal outlook with revenue taking an estimated $1 billion hit over the next three years and a deficit quickly approaching $1 billion for the year. Recent spending promises also have to be covered. 

The Budget is set to be released May 2. 

“That means cuts. There’s no other way of describing it” 

OPPOSITION LEADER GARY HIGGINS  (null)


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