Oil and gas exploration and production in the Beetaloo Basin

April 2023

© Commonwealth of Australia 2023
ISBN: 978-1-76093-496-5

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Members

List of Recommendations

Abbreviations and acronyms

Chapter 1—Introduction

  Referral
  Re-adoption of the inquiry in the 47
  Acknowledgements
  Declaration
  The Interim Report
  Background context
  Scope of the Final Report

Chapter 2—Update on matters raised in the 46th Parliament

  Status of the BCD Program
  Resolution of Federal Court litigation
  Accountability for a Russian oligarch’s interest in the Beetaloo
  Economic rationale for shale gas activities in the Beetaloo

Chapter 3—Role of the Australian Government

  Matters of national environmental significance in the Beetaloo
  Australian and NT Government collaboration
  International climate change commitments

Chapter 4—Beetaloo environmental and emissions regulation

  Implementation of recommendations from the Pepper Inquiry
  Environment Management Plans
  Lifecycle GHG emissions in the Beetaloo
  The NT Climate Change Response

Chapter 5—First Nations and pastoralist perspectives

  Concerns expressed in relation to gas activities in the Beetaloo
  Consultations with First Nations people and pastoralists
  Protection and preservation of cultural heritage
  Concluding comments

Coalition Senators' dissenting report

  Ideological Nature of Inquiry
  Economic benefit of the Beetaloo
  Overreach on Safeguard Mechanism and Emissions
  Environmental Record
  Water Trigger
  Traditional Owner consultation / Northern Land Council
  Conclusion

Senator Lidia Thorpe's additional comments

Appendix 1—Submissions and additional information

Appendix 2—Public hearings and witnesses

Appendix 3—Recommendations from the Interim Report

Committee Secretariat contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 3526
ec.sen@aph.gov.au