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Back in 2020, in the midst of Covid led economic fears, the Morrison Government and the NT Government both put together commissions to look at ways to strengthen the economy. Both commissions were stacked with fossil fuel executives, including one key man: Andrew Liveris.

Liveris is a former Dow Chemical CEO, helped shape Trump’s manufacturing policies, and currently sits on the board of the world’s most polluting company in history, fossil fuel giant Saudi Aramco. 

Both fossil fuel exec filled commissions recommended the government invest heavily in gas. Instead of putting public money into long term, climate friendly projects like renewables, they wanted the government to help their mates in the gas industry squeeze out as many profits as they could, as quickly as possible. 

A big part of their plans centred on opening up the NT for fracking, where 70% of land is covered in gas exploration licences. There was just one barrier; a lack of export facilities to send the fracked gas overseas.

Enter: the Middle Arm Gas Hub - a project with facilities to process and prepare gas for export overseas. This facility would make gas expansion in the Beetaloo and Barossa possible.

Unsurprisingly, Liveris and the Morrison Government weren’t too fussed about the potential climate and health impacts of such a project. They announced the initial funding for the project despite having not done an environmental or health impacts assessment, a crucial step in planning.

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What has AYCC been doing on Middle Arm?

AYCC volunteers across the country have been pushing back against the funding of Middle Arm through:

Meetings with decision makers like Treasurer Jim Chalmers

 

Public actions at MP offices and collecting signatures for our petition (sign it here!)

Collaborating on a creative video

 

Participating in the Senate Inquiry - AYCC Darwin made a submission and appeared at the hearings to voice opposition to the project.

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The Petroni report also found the industrial development at Middle Arm would have significant climate and health impacts, including increasing air pollution and cancer risk several times over [7]. According to a 2020 review of 16 epidemiological studies, communities living within 5km of petrochemical facilities had a 30% higher chance of developing leukaemia [8]. 

These risks increase dramatically for young people. Studies have shown that children living near gas operations in the US have higher rates of low birth weight, birth defects, childhood cancers, and respiratory conditions [9]. Palmerston is just 3km away from Middle Arm, with more than half the population aged under 29 [10].

In Darwin, almost 50 medical specialists have raised the alarm on the Middle Arm Gas Hub, delivering a joint letter to the NT government.