Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Waters. Firstly, your question moves across the various ministers who are engaged here, but I can say that the Minister for Resources and the government are concerned about the reports of methane leaking from this Darwin LNG facility that aired on the ABC this morning. It does largely seem to be a matter for the Northern Territory's EPA regulator, but the minister has asked her department—confusingly, also my department—to review those reports as part of their work with the expert panel on methane reporting.

The government have confidence in the relevant authorities, and we do understand that the facility has been the subject of several reviews and investigations by the operator and by the regulator—the Northern Territory EPA. We know that the tank is currently not in operation. The tank in question was subject to an engineering investigation in 2020 when approval was sought from Northern Territory WorkSafe to extend the life of the Darwin LNG facility. The appropriate regulatory approvals are in place. Importantly, it has an approved safety case. The methane emissions are reported under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme, and there is a monitoring program in place. The licence to recommence operations at the tank is up for renewal on 18 September. It's a matter really for Santos and the Northern Territory. (Time expired)