Given EDO’s expertise and role as a community legal centre, this submission is framed by our concern about the relationship of the draft Framework (and future SREBAs – Strategic regional and baseline assessments) with the regulatory framework for the onshore gas industry and hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
Our primary interest is to ensure that any SREBA is scientifically rigorous and fit for purpose to develop, and administer, robust environmental policy decision-making, and regulation of any unconventional shale gas activities in the Northern Territory. As such, in this submission we give particular focus to matters relating to governance, accountability, transparency and independence.
We are also highly concerned, given the strong public interest involved, in seeing the Fracking Inquiry’s recommendations implemented in full, and in a way that is appropriate and consistent with the intent of the Inquiry.
