Community Update #23 - 16 October 2017
The Chair of the Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic
Fracturing in the Northern Territory (Inquiry), the Hon Justice Rachel
Pepper, refutes claims made in today’s ABC Radio National coverage to the
effect that the Inquiry supported calls for an investigation into former Chief
Minister Adam Giles’ subsequent employment by Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd (Hancock).
ABC Radio National’s coverage, both online in print and on radio, incorrectly
claimed that Justice Pepper supported suggestions made by the public at a
community forum held by the Inquiry at Jilkminggan on 22 August 2017, that the
former Chief Minister’s employment by Hancock be investigated by some form of
anti-corruption body.
The community forum at Jilkminggan was one of 13 regional forums hosted by the
Inquiry as part of evidence gathering which followed the release of the Interim
Report.
Some members of the public have expressed the view that there is a perceived
conflict of interest arising as a consequence of the employment of Mr Giles by
Hancock, the holder of EP 154, an exploration permit which was granted by the
Minister for Resources, while Mr Giles was the then Chief Minister.
“I have never supported or endorsed any commentary associated with any
perceived conflict of interest consequent upon the employment of the former
Chief Minister Adam Giles by Hancock Prospecting, or the granting of EP 154 to
Hancock," Justice Pepper said.
“Coverage from ABC Radio National today suggesting that have I supported an
anti-corruption investigation into Mr Giles’ conduct in this context is
misleading and disappointing.
“During the forum some attendees raised concerns about a perceived conflict of
interest between the granting of EP 154 to Hancock while Mr Giles was Chief
Minister, and Mr Giles’ subsequent employment by Hancock, and that the
matter should be investigated further. At no point in time did I state that the
Inquiry would refer Mr Giles to any anti-corruption body and at no point in
time did I state that the Inquiry would consider making a recommendation to the
NT Government to this effect.
“Not only does the Inquiry not have the power to make such a referral under the
Inquiries Act (NT), such action would be beyond the Inquiry’s Terms of
Reference.
“The Inquiry has, however, received written submissions expressing a concern
about this matter. Links to these submissions are available on the Inquiry’s
website."
The submissions may be found at:
- Submission 405 - Birch, Cheryl; Roberts, Paula; Tapp, Daniel; Watson, Phillip (https://frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au/?a=446343)
- Submission 405A - Birch, Cheryl; Roberts, Paula; Tapp, Daniel; Watson, Phillip (https://frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au/?a=452412)
- Submission 375 Transcript: Birch, Cheryl; Roberts, Paula; Tapp, Daniel; Watson, Phillip (https://frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au/?a=446334)
- Submission 455 - Napper, Monica (https://frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au/?a=447585)
- For more information go to frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au or contact the Hydraulic Fracturing Taskforce:
Phone: (+61) 08 8999 6573
Email: fracking.inquiry@nt.gov.au
Web:frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au
For more information go to frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au or contact the Hydraulic Fracturing Taskforce:
Phone: (+61) 08 8999 6573
Email: fracking.inquiry@nt.gov.au
Web:frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au