For the Government's response to the Inquiry recommendations, visit Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory.
The independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing of Onshore Unconventional Reservoirs in the Northern Territory handed down its Final Report to the Northern Territory Government on Tuesday 27 March 2018.
The Inquiry’s community update upon releasing the Final Report is available here. The Inquiry’s Chair, the Honourable Justice Rachel Pepper’s final remarks following the hand down of the Final Report is available here.
On 3 December 2016 the Northern Territory Government announced an independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing of Onshore Unconventional Reservoirs in the Northern Territory.
The Inquiry was commissioned under the Inquires Act and its Terms of Reference required it to investigate the environmental, social and economic risks and impacts of hydraulic fracturing (commonly known as fraccing or fracking) of onshore unconventional gas reservoirs and associated activities in the Northern Territory.
The Honourable Justice Rachel Pepper was Chair of the Inquiry. An eminent scientific Inquiry panel with expertise in disciplines such as water, geology, ecology, health, sociology and engineering was assembled to form the Commissioners under the Inquires Act.
27 March 2018: The Independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory (the Inquiry) released its Final Report today. Read the full update.
14 February 2018: The Independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory (the Inquiry) is this week concluding its final round of regional community consultations on its draft Final Report. Read the full update.
5 February 2018: The independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing of Onshore Shale Gas Reservoirs in the Northern Territory (Inquiry) has commenced a two-day hearing in Darwin today, the first of its final round of public live-streamed hearings. Read the full update.
30 January 2018: The independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing of onshore shale gas reservoirs in the Northern Territory (Inquiry) begins its final round of hearings and community forums across the Northern Territory today. Read the full update.
19 January 2018: The Independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing of Onshore Unconventional Reservoirs in the Northern Territory (Inquiry) today released a draft Social Impact Assessment Framework (Framework) produced by Coffey Services Australia Pty Ltd (Coffey). Read the full update.
12 December 2017: The Independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing of Onshore Unconventional Reservoirs in the Northern Territory (Inquiry) released its draft Final Report today. Read the full update.
Moratorium
On 14 September 2016 the Northern Territory Government announced a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing of onshore unconventional reservoirs including the use of hydraulic fracturing for exploration, extraction, production and including Diagnostic Fracture Injection Testing (DFITs).
The moratorium will remain in place until the government considers the Inquiry’s Final Report.