Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

L () (): To the Prime Minister: your government has backflipped and blocked an inquiry into Middle Arm in Darwin, despite $1.5 billion of taxpayers' money allocated to this project, extensive self-interested lobbying and seemingly no independent business case or assessment of risks and benefits to the Australian people. FOIs show the key purpose is as a gas export terminal. Why is the public funding key infrastructure for a private gas company to make record profits from exports?

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

MADELEINE KING (—) (): I think the member was trying to impute that there is a subsidy for fossil fuels in Middle Arm. That is not the case, and we have made it very clear that that is not the case, and it will continue not to be the case. We will continue to work with the Northern Territory government on the development of the sustainable development project there in the Northern Territory, on Middle Arm. It is very important for the Northern Territory to diversify its economy. It does have challenges to its economy, and the Albanese Labor government will continue to support and work with the Northern Territory government. As the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has said before, this government will have an equity stake in that project, and we'll continue to work right across northern Australia, and particularly in Darwin, where this project is very important for future export industries.