References:

[1] 'Onshore shale gas in Australia and the Northern Territory', The Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory, March 2018.

[2] 'NT gas compared to coal-fired power plants', The Australia Institute.

[3] For more information on chemical information see 'Object to Origin's frack plans', Lock the Gate.

[4] Recommendation 7.12, The Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory, March 2018.

[4] 'Aboriginal people and their culture', p 266, The Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory, March 2018.

[5] Hydraulic Fracturing and Free, Prior and Informed Consent in the NT, Jumbunna Institute UTS.

Origin's exploration well has the potential to lead to hundreds of Origin's shale gas wells in full production phase, and to the further development of Northern Territory's unconventional gas industry, which NT government sources have said could mean over 6000 gas wells.The gas industries' peak body, the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, has said there are over 200 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Northern Territory, which is the equivalent to 50 power stations operating for thirty years.We simply cannot afford such a climate disaster.Origin have provided a list of chemicals that will be stored and used on the site of their exploration well. Many of these chemicals do not have available health data.These chemicals must be adequately health tested before being used in the fracking processes.Origin is proposing using open tanks to store liquids that flow back after the fracking process, which will be millions of litres. This is in spite of the fact that the Northern Territory fracking inquiry recommended that all polluted water from the fracking process be stored in closed tanks to minimise risks to human life and the natural environment.The Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory stated that, 'Aboriginal people from regional communities who made submissions to the Panel almost universally expressed deep concern about, and strong opposition to, the development of any onshore shale gas industry on their country.'This included communities in the Beetaloo basin where this exploration well will be located. A report from the Jumbunna Institute at UTS,has questioned whether communities have been provided adequate information about the fracking processes, leading to the conclusion that 'based on a review of publicly available information, the report finds that most – if not all – exploration permits issued in the Northern Territory for unconventional gas were issued in the absence of free, prior and informed consent'. In this context it is not appropriate to proceed with the current exploration permit without further consultation.