Skip to content
Energy, Government Federal

Middle Arm a Dud: Federal Government must pull funding for mass fossil fuel subsidy

Environment Centre NT 2 mins read

The Environment Centre NT welcomes the Federal Government’s new funding announcements for the Northern Territory, but urges the Prime Minister to dump its subsidy for the toxic Middle Arm gas and petrochemical hub. 

Late last year it was revealed that the true cost of the proposed Middle Arm gas hub had spiralled to over $3.5 billion — more than double the amount ($1.5b) initially committed by the Federal Government in 2022. 

While new spending on housing and education is sorely needed, these new commitments amount to less than $2 billion.* This means the Federal Government could be paying more than four times more for a new gas hub in Darwin, than it is committing to new education spending in the Territory.

The Environment Centre NT released  a report last month, Recharging the Territory: Jobs, skills, lower bills, urging the Federal Government to redirect the Middle Arm funding to renewable energy and other climate-friendly industries. 

Executive Director of the Environment Centre NT Kirsty Howey said, “While money for housing and education is a wise investment for the Territory, this stands in stark contrast to the billions of dollars in public funds that will be wasted if the Middle Arm gas and petrochemical hub goes ahead as planned.”

“Middle Arm is a complete dud of a project that will lose money hand over fist. It is nothing more than a massive fossil fuel subsidy that puts our health, harbour and climate at risk.”

 “It is gravely disappointing that the NT Government is using the Federal Cabinet’s visit to lobby for more support for fossil fuels. Middle Arm will be yet another white elephant of northern Australia that sucks taxpayer money away from sectors that deliver meaningful change for Territorians.”

Media enquiries contact: Bree Ahrens 0497 057 647

*Breakdown of Federal Commitments

Funding 

Total new funding from Federal Government

Source

Housing

$844m

Albanese and NT governments to spend $4 billion over a decade to tackle Indigenous housing (theconversation.com)

Education

$747.6m

NT and federal governments unveil $1 billion package to fully fund public schools by 2029 - ABC News

GST top up

$256m

The Northern Territory has received a massive GST boost | NT News

EV Charging stations

$78.6 (Unclear how much of this package is for the NT)

Fast-charging EV stations ready to connect NT regions | Ministers (dcceew.gov.au)

 

Total: $1.9 billion

 



More from this category

  • Energy, Finance Investment
  • 16/10/2024
  • 15:26
Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis

IEEFA Australia response to the International Energy Agency 2024 World Energy Outlook

Following the release by the International Energy Agency (IEA) of its 2024 World Energy Outlook (WEO), the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) offers the following remarks. General points Amandine Denis-Ryan, CEO of IEEFA Australia “The IEA clearly identifies areas where too much investment is happening – such as in new coal and gas investments – and where too little investment is happening – such as in energy efficiency and methane emissions reduction.” “The IEA identifies the risk that oversized investments in fossil fuels will create a lose-lose situation – driving prices down to create demand to absorb…

  • Energy, Environment
  • 16/10/2024
  • 15:14
The Climate Council

World Energy Outlook: renewables surge and global gas glut as we enter the ‘Age of Electricity’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2024 World Energy Outlook: renewables surge and global gas glut as we enter the ‘Age of Electricity’ NEW REPORT: The World Energy Outlook 2024 from the International Energy Agency has found: We are moving at speed into the Age of Electricity, which is underpinned by clean energy sources like solar and wind. Global investment in clean energy is approaching $US2 trillion - almost double the combined amount spent on new coal, oil and gas supply. While there is record growth in solar and wind energy, this is occurring alongside growth in energy demand. Climate…

  • Contains:
  • Energy, Environment
  • 16/10/2024
  • 15:05
The Climate Council

World Energy Outlook: renewables surge and global gas glut as we enter the ‘Age of Electricity’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2024 World Energy Outlook: renewables surge and global gas glut as we enter the ‘Age of Electricity’ NEW REPORT: The World Energy Outlook 2024 from the International Energy Agency has found: We are moving at speed into the Age of Electricity, which is underpinned by clean energy sources like solar and wind. Global investment in clean energy is approaching $US2 trillion - almost double the combined amount spent on new coal, oil and gas supply. While there is record growth in solar and wind energy, this is occurring alongside growth in energy demand. Climate…

  • Contains:

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.