It's time for Luke Gosling MP to stand up for Darwin and Palmerston

A toxic gas hub or a liveable future: what will Luke Gosling choose for Darwin and Palmerston?

The Federal Government’s massive subsidy for the Middle Arm gas and petrochemical hub puts Luke Gosling’s own constituents in danger – but the MP for Solomon has been missing in action.

The Federal Government has promised $1.5b for dredging Elizabeth River and building industrial jetties at the Middle Arm peninsula, and over $400m for associated ‘regional logistics hubs’ – that’s a massive $1.9 billion in total.

The problem is, the project doesn’t stack up – we know it’s bad for our health, the harbour, climate, and for small business. The rejection of the project’s business case by Infrastructure Australia, and the delay of the Environmental Impact Statement makes it questionable whether this project is even feasible.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government's $1.9 billion commitment sits in the Government’s contingency fund – but could be put to good use today to bring real benefit to Territorians, without threatening our health, climate, and harbour.

Now is the time to raise our voice and let him know that we won't stand for $1.9 billion of taxpayer money being given to multinational oil and gas companies when Territorians are crying out for cost-of-living relief.

Write to Luke Gosling now and demand that he redirects the $1.9 billion subsidy to real cost of living relief and infrastructure projects that Territorians need.

ECNT's Recharging the Territory Report demonstrates that with the same amount of money that the Government wants to use to subsidize toxic industries on Darwin Harbour, we could instead deliver high-quality local jobs, tackle the cost-of-living crisis, and set the Territory up to be a leader in the sustainable industries of the future. 

Enough is enough. It’s time for Luke Gosling to stand up for the people he represents and call for the redirection of the Middle Arm subsidy.

Authorised by B Ahrens, Environment Centre NT, 98 Woods St Darwin NT.

Dear Mr Gosling,

Will you stand up for the people of Darwin and Palmerston?

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to protect the communities you represent from the threats posed by the Middle Arm gas hub, and urge your Government colleagues to support a redirection of the massive $1.9b funding commitment for the project.

The Senate Inquiry into the Middle Arm Industrial Precinct has demonstrated that the risks of this project to our health, climate, harbour, and economy are simply unacceptable. The rejection of the business case by Infrastructure Australia suggests that the project simply doesn’t stack up economically.

Please don’t let the $1.9 billion your Government has committed to this toxic project go to waste, when it could be redirected now to bring real benefits to Territorians.

The ECNT's Recharging the Territory report demonstrates how much could be achieved with a redirection of your Government's funding commitment. Strategic deployment of this funding would enable the Territory to join the renewables revolution happening across the country, tackle climate change, and change the lives of Territorians by investing in sustainable jobs and training, and funding energy upgrades for low income and public housing dwellings.

You have an opportunity to transform the lives of Territorians and prevent an environmental and health disaster.

Will you act now for your constituents?

Yours sincerely,