Proposed reforms to federal environmental laws will fast-track controversial gas expansion projects in the Northern Territory without proper public consultation, federal Greens Leader Larissa Waters has warned while visiting Darwin, adding the reforms amount to deregulation of industry that will be particularly devastating for the Northern Territory.

The Albanese Labor Government has proposed changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act that would see “streamlined assessment” processes for gas projects, which Ms Waters said will jeopardise the future of remote communities and could see approval powers for fracking handed back to the NT Government, while water resources are at risk.

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