Australia's Northern Territory to invest A$2mn every year in gas industry

The Northern Territory state government on April 15 announced an A$2mn ($1.28mn) annual investment to support the expansion of the territory's gas industry.

The government said it will conduct a regional monitoring programme in the Beetaloo sub-basin. The Beetaloo gas industry has the potential to provide 13,000 jobs by 2040 and increase Northern Territory’s economic activity by A$17bn, it said.

“I’m focused on getting the Territory working and that’s why it’s important to back the natural gas industry and support its growth,” chief minister Eva Lawler said. 

The government said that the monitoring programme will ensure environmental safeguards and will build on the baseline data already collected. Charles Darwin University will play a leading role in the monitoring activities. Their responsibilities include data collection, analysis, and public reporting.