As Territorians approach the one-year anniversary of swearing-in of the Finocchiaro Government on 28 August 2025, it's time to look back at how the Environment Centre NT has stood with communities against the CLP’s regressive environmental agenda.
Here’s a recap of the worst attacks on the environment and communities across the Territory since the Country Liberal Party was elected on 24 August 2024, and how communities are fighting back.
Democracy and oversight under attack
In October 2024, we learnt of plans by the NT Government to introduce new laws to hand unprecedented power to the Chief Minister and the new role of the Territory Coordinator.
ECNT Executive Director Kirsty Howey warned that “[It] could see environmentally destructive projects like fracking, land clearing and water extraction for cotton streamlined, fast-tracked and actually exempted from environmental laws altogether.”
On 14 November 2024, former INPEX general manager, Stuart Knowles was appointed interim Territory Coordinator.
The Territory's four Land Councils said the Bill would exclude First Nations people from involvement in development decisions on their traditional lands and prevent them from protecting their land and culture.
Despite the Legislative Scrutiny Committee also finding the bill poses a threat to democracy, the Territory Coordinator Bill was passed on 19 March 2025.
This unelected bureaucrat now has authoritarian and anti-democratic powers to override 32 different NT laws and fast-track some of the most destructive projects in the country.
Days after the Territory Coordinator legislation was passed, during question time, Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley quoted Donald Trump saying "drill, baby, drill".
Community fights back:
The Northern Territory Government initially undertook a secret consultation on the Territory Coordinator Bill but were forced to engage with the public following significant pushback.
This round of consultation received over 500 submissions – but the Government refused to reveal the extent of opposition, though it was made clear in a series of explosive community consultation events. This pressure resulted in an inquiry by the Legislative Scrutiny Committee, which received over 300 submissions against the Bill and only two in favour.
We continue to monitor how the Territory Coordinator Act will be used in the NT.
Environment laws gutted and climate denial embraced
Finocchiaro announced her new Ministry on 11 September 2024, scrapping the climate change portfolio and merging environment and water resources (formerly water security) into the same portfolio as lands and planning. This risks development trumping environmental protection every single time.
The government began gutting other key protections for our environment and climate:
- 20 December 2024: changes to the Petroleum Act removed requirements for onshore fracking to be referred to the EPA and the large emitters policy was scrapped.
- 3 March 2025: Fracking Code of Practice gutted was so companies don’t need to report hazardous leaks to landowners or keep records of chemicals pumped into the environment.
- 27 March 2025: renewable energy target of 50 per cent by 2030 was scrapped
- 19 June 2025: 2030 emissions reduction targets were quietly abandoned
- 6 February 2025: plans announced to remove third-party merits review provisions, so communities can’t seek reviews of fracking, planning, and water decisions.
Communities fights back:
Environment Centre NT released a report showing the Territory is coming last in the race to renewable energy and continues to advocate against federal and Territory support for the Middle Arm petrochemical hub, fracking in the Beetaloo and carbon dumping plans off Darwin.
Our watchdog work also revealed the NT EPA has gutted its emissions policy just as the Territory’s emissions soar.
Territory’s water under threat
On 17 December 2024, Minister Joshua Burgoyne declared the Mataranka Water Allocation Plan, doubling the amount of water that can be extracted from the Tindal Limestone Aquifer, risking the future of our tourism industry and the iconic Mataranka and Bitter Springs.
Community fights back:
In May, community members wrote submissions against the plan. In April 2025, Environment Centre NT launched legal action asking the Supreme Court to review the plan and rule it invalid. A hearing is scheduled for late October 2025.
In July 2025, First Nations clans from across the Roper River catchment came together to form a new alliance called the Ropa Woda Governance Council. They called for a complete ban on all future water extraction licenses in the Roper catchment, legal protection for environmental and Indigenous cultural values, and inclusion of the new Council in ALL water decision-making.
Bulldozers unleashed
On 22 June 2025, our watchdog work revealed Finocchiaro Government is on track to approve the destruction of almost 26,000 hectares of native vegetation by the end of 2025.
Communities fight back:
Community members rallied behind our Stop Bulldozing Country campaign, with the owners of Claravale Station suspending their deforestation plans. When the proponents of the Ord 3 development sought the first federal environmental review of a land-clearing proposal in the Territory’s history, more than 4000 people make submissions about it.
Funding cuts
On 11 February 2025, Finocchiaro defunded the Arid Lands Environment Council (ALEC) and Environment Centre NT.
But our community rallied. The response was overwhelming, and together we've almost restored the funding the Finocchiaro government cut.
We're incredibly fortunate to have supporters who understand the vital importance of holding government and industry accountable.
Thank you to everyone who has gotten behind us – from gold coin donations to in-kind support from artists like Leah Flanagan, to philanthropic donors.
We're immensely grateful for your support.
Together, we're stronger. Let’s keep going.
