The Environment Centre NT

$40,000 | May 2023

What do ECNT do?

ECNT is the peak environmental body in the Northern Territory, with a four-decade long history of stopping environmental destructive projects and holding government to account with respect to environmental decision-making. ECNT has a strong track record of collaborating with, and empowering, Traditional Owners to lead campaigns about projects that affect their Country. We are trusted by communities across the NT, including Tiwi Traditional Owners fighting the Barossa gas project.

Why is this work important?

The Northern Territory is ground zero for the fossil fuel industry’s expansion plans in Australia, and the Environment Centre NT is the only organisation in Australia campaigning to stop all three new gas projects planned here: the Beetaloo Basin, the Barossa gasfield, and the Middle Arm petrochemical hub. Tiwi people and other campaign partners are on the cusp of stopping the Barossa project altogether. Following Tiwi Traditional Owners’ legal interventions, and the work of other campaign partners, Santos currently has only two approvals in place (out of 18). Over the next 12 months, Tiwi people have an unprecedented opportunity to influence the consultation process for the remaining approvals, including the cultural heritage survey for the pipeline route.

How is Groundswell supporting this work?

ECNT has a strong track record of collaborating with, and empowering, Traditional Owners to lead campaigns about projects that affect their Country. They are trusted by communities across the NT, including Tiwi Traditional Owners fighting the Barossa gas project. Groundswell funding will ensure that Munupi clan representative and community campaigner, Antonia Burke, can be paid for her time so she can continue to build her campaigning capacity and empower and support Tiwi Traditional Owners to sustain their fight against the Barossa gas project. It is vital that this crucial part of the campaign is First Nations-led, to minimise extractive campaigning practices and ensure that Tiwi people can work with someone they trust implicitly.