If we want to keep the lights on, keep businesses operating, and keep costs down for families, we need to focus on what works right now: getting gas and oil out of the ground, writes MLA Gerard Maley.
OPINION: Gerard Maley Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
For too long, Australia’s energy debate has been driven by ideology instead of reality.
While renewables will have a role in the future, the truth is they cannot yet deliver the reliability, scale or affordability our economy demands today.
We are now at a crossroads and the priority must be clear.
If we want to keep the lights on, keep businesses operating, and keep costs down for families, we need to focus on what works right now: getting gas and oil out of the ground.
That means backing our strengths, not chasing short-term headlines, and ensuring Australia has the energy it needs to keep moving.
Our national security is intrinsically linked to our energy security.
As a major gas exporter, Australia’s role as a stable and reliable energy supplier supports stronger bilateral relationships, helping secure access to the petrol and diesel we depend on.
Across the country, we are seeing rising concerns about gas shortages, increasing prices, and the challenge of maintaining reliable, affordable power.
These are not abstract issues, they are issue which affect households, industry, jobs, and our national prosperity.
That’s why the Northern Territory must be leading and be front and centre in the national solution.
Australia cannot afford to overlook one of its most significant energy opportunities at a time when supply is tightening and demand remains strong.
The Territory holds some of the most significant untapped gas resources in the country, and the Beetaloo Sub-basin, which hold enough gas to power Australia for 200 years, represents a genuine opportunity to strengthen Australia’s energy security while delivering real economic benefits for Territorians.
Gas production in the Beetaloo is already ramping up with Tamboran Resources this week reported a record average 20day initial production flow rate at one of its well sites, demonstrating tangible progress in unlocking the Beetaloo’s potential.
The Beetaloo is not just another project, it is a strategic asset.
Labor governments at both levels have allowed delay, uncertainty and over-regulation to stall projects that are in the national interest, drive in part by belief that an unstoppable green energy transition would remove the need for fossil fuels.
Developing this resource means more reliable energy for Australian homes and businesses, downward pressure on gas prices, and a stronger domestic supply at a time when global markets are volatile and increasingly competitive.
It also underpins sovereign capability, ensuring Australia is less reliant on overseas supply chains and better positioned to control its own energy future.
The Northern Territory produces the key inputs to manufacture diesel and petrol, including crude oil and natural gas liquids, positioning our region as a critical part of Australia’s fuel security.
For the Northern Territory, the benefits are even more direct. A thriving Beetaloo will attract billions in investment, create local jobs, and support regional communities. It will drive opportunities for Territory businesses, from civil works and logistics through to long-term service industries, ensuring that the economic gains are felt across the board.
Importantly, it also provides the foundation for future industry.
If we are serious about growing the Territory economy and building new industries, we must secure reliable and affordable energy, and that starts with the Beetaloo.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government understands this.
We are focused on creating the right environment for investment, cutting red tape, providing certainty, and ensuring projects can progress efficiently while meeting strict environmental standards.
Investors have choices, and in a highly competitive global market, we must make sure the Northern Territory stands out as a place where projects can succeed.
At the same time, we are ensuring Territorians benefit.
That means local jobs, local contracts, and long-term economic growth that supports families and communities right across the Territory.
It also means working closely with landholders and Traditional Owners to ensure development is done responsibly and respectfully.
We will continue to work to ensure the Territory is visible in a highly competitive global market and positioning the Beetaloo to attract investment, create jobs and drive economic growth for Territorians.
The Territory cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while others make their case.
This is about more than just energy. This is about economic resilience, national strength, and securing a better future.
The Beetaloo is our opportunity to deliver all three.
Now is the time to get on with the job.
Source:
The NT News
