Protesters gathered outside federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s office chanting “Hey hey! Ho ho! Middle Arm has got to go!” on July 13.
Middle Arm is a major new industrial gas project in the Northern Territory (NT). The protest was organised by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC), with support from the Sydney Climate Coalition (SCC) and other environment groups.
In 2022, the federal Labor government announced more than $1.9 billion of public money to fund the Middle Arm gas project near Darwin on Larrakia country in the NT. The proposed Middle Arm project would expand gas exports and make way for the opening of new gas basins like the Beetaloo and Barossa in Tiwi Islands. Traditional Owners and local communities are strongly opposed to these fossil fuel developments.
The AYCC also wants Labor to commit to phasing out fossil fuel subsidies by 2025 and reverse existing subsidies for gas expansion and infrastructure, including all public funding for gas processing, manufacturing and export at Middle Arm Industrial precinct.
An AYCC speaker said: “The Middle Arm project will increase greenhouse emissions in the NT by 75%. First Nations’ rights are being trampled on.
“We are here today to demand that Labor stop funding this project immediately. We don't need any more gas or coal being mined.
“Young people have mobilised across this country and around the world to demand strong action on the climate crisis. Labor claims to be ending the climate wars but have done just the opposite.
“We are calling on Labor to take genuine action on the climate emergency: end support and funding for all new gas and coal projects, including Middle Arm.”
[Get involved in the campaign against Middle Arm. aycc.org.au/middlearm ]