NT Senator announces opposition to Coalition's $50 million Beetaloo fracking grants program

Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy says she is concerned by the "questionable" process behind the awarding of public grants to gas companies in the Beetaloo Basin and has urged her Labor colleagues to rethink their stance on the federal government program. Key points: Senator McCarthy wanted her party to vote with the Greens against a $50 million grants program A senate inquiry has examined the links between grant recipients and government ministers Coalition senators have dismissed the inquiry's concerns as 'overtly political' Senator McCarthy, a Yanyuwa woman and declared traditional owner from near Boroloola, said she was concerned public funding was being given "when parts of the grants process remain questionable and not transparent." Seven Labor members sit on the committee, including Senator McCarthy, The inquiry heard evidence representatives of Empire Energy, the parent company of Imperial Oil and Gas, met with Energy Minister Angus Taylor on two separate occasions before Imperial was awarded the $21 million grants in July. Coalition senators say findings politicised The two Coalition senators that sit on the inquiry, which includes Northern Territory Country Liberal Senator Sam McMahon, dismissed the interim report, labelling it "political". "Coalition senators note that Minister Taylor is not the decision-maker for grants under the Program and that he made appropriate declarations of interest regarding the visit to the Beetaloo with Empire," it said.