The NT News‘ coverage of gas development in the Beetaloo Sub-basin was the focus of national scrutiny Monday night as Media Watch criticised the newspaper’s reporting as “cheerleading for gas companies and the government” that has repeatedly failed to provide the whole picture, while noting the paper takes in untold amounts of advertising money from industry and the CLP Government.
The program also raised the question of whose interests the News Corp paper was serving when it consistently ignored facts, as well as the costs to taxpayers of developing the Beetaloo and environmental critics’ concerns.
But the paper of record defended its reporting, with editor Melanie Plane either intentionally or inadvertently reciting CLP spin when she claimed the NT News “deeply care[s] about the environment [and] preserving our lifestyle…”.
Media Watch fill-in host Raf Epstein showed recent NT News front pages that celebrated Tamboran Resources’ movement of test gas from the Beetaloo to the Top End’s electricity grid last week, adding the paper was “busy pumping up the big Beetaloo gas dream” while also attacking climate activists as “silly fossils”.
One front page with the headline ‘Wheel of Fortune’ heralded the test gas that taxpayers are paying for as “the start of a new Golden Era for energy”.
“Beetaloo gas may keep the lights on in Darwin,” Epstein said. “But if this so-called ‘Golden Era’ means gas flowing to the east coast or the rest of the world, that will require billions extra, and no one has committed to that.”
He pointed to an Australian Financial Review article that stated industry analysts say billions of dollars of investment would still be required to scale up production to service the east coast domestic market and to export overseas.
“But you wouldn’t find much talk like that in the local paper who’ve been backing it for years,” Epstein said, while pointing to various glowing headlines about the industry over the last year.
“There’s not much space devoted to some healthy skepticism. It might be nice to know, for example, how much the government is on the hook for?”
The program then showed an NT Independent article from last week that pointed out the previous Labor government entered into a nine-year gas supply deal with Tamboran that did not go to a competitive tender, with the total costs never disclosed to the public.
Media Watch also picked up on Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro telling a Territorian, who asked on radio if the new Beetaloo gas in the electricity grid would lower power prices here, that it would not lower prices, “unfortunately”.
“How unfortunate,” Epstein said, citing lines from energy analyst Saul Kavonic, who said that there are “still doubts” by some major gas industry players towards the Beetaloo and that large scale development was yet to be firmed up.
“Territorians must just be cognisant that it is still early days with lots of risks and time involved before the main benefits can be realised,” Mr Kavonic was quoted as saying.
Epstein added that while the NT News is “cheerleading for the gas companies and the government, the paper is also taking their money in sponsored content”.
An advertorial listed as “partner content” in the NT News on June 4, reported old modelling that claimed developing the Beetaloo Sub-basin would create 13,000 jobs while claiming it was “new modelling for the NT Government”.
As Climate Integrity pointed out in an opinion piece in this newspaper over the weekend, the report that contained that figure is nine years old and that particular jobs figure was cherry-picked from an ACIL Allen report under a scenario that was rated as a “very low” probability of occurring.
NT News says it cares about the Territory ‘lifestyle’ and Indigenous ‘participation’
NT News’ Darwin-based editor Melanie Plane was quoted on the program with a terse statement telling Media Watch, “…it is clear you have already formed a view, your approach is ironic considering the east coast ABC’s long record of negative scrutiny of most Northern Territory issues….”
She provided a handful of articles on environment issues, with many having nothing to do with Tamboran or Beetaloo, as proof the paper reported on environmental issues.
“The NT News unashamedly supports economic development for the Territory, particularly in our undeveloped regional centres where infrastructure is sorely lacking and access to housing, health and education services is unlike anywhere else in Australia,” she said.
“As Territorians, we also deeply care about the environment, preserving our lifestyle and ensuring Indigenous participation and direction of economic activity on country.
“We have never been biased against dissenting views or opponents of development and will continue to report all sides of issues concerning the Territory’s future.”
Media Watch did not explore other undisclosed conflicts of interest with the NT News‘ reporting on Monday night, including that business editor Camden Smith previously worked for the CLP for years and that deputy editor Gary Shipway worked for the CLP for decades, while his current partner currently works as an adviser in Ms Finocchiaro’s office.
Epstein ended Media Watch’s “gas upped” piece with a question.
“You expect the local paper to barrack hard for its home town, but when that paper isn’t separating what’s real from what’s possible, and doesn’t say how much things might cost taxpayers – well, if you’re not asking those questions, whose interests are really being served?”
The Media Watch episode can be viewed here.
Disclosure: NT Independent editor Christopher Walsh was senior political reporter for the NT News between 2014 and 2017 and sued News Corp for wrongful dismissal in 2017. The matter was settled out of court.
Ladies and gentlemen,
With respect, l offer the following for those Territorians that have suffered poorly in the deliverance of education and any such retention of learnings!
Are you ready!
The ALP and CLP will never allow the Territory to exposure of investment and income that could threaten the viability of STATESHIP! In simple terms these two parties are fearful of losing the 75% of federal budgetary funds that are given to the Territory each year!
This is why we have muppets in executive roles, people on big money that only passed year 9! Any Dick can spend money but it takes intelligence to make money and keep financially in the BLACK!
Becoming a State would mean real accountability, compliant procurement processes and the likes of Andrew Kirkman held to account!
We are a Territory because we fail to be able to generate enough income to support ourselves- the Australian constitution stipulates that the federal government exercised full legislative control over a Territory!
We are controlled, We are weak, we are vacant if any true Westminster system methodologies for accountability AND we are in reality true BLUDGERS of everyday working Australians each year that we accept that 75% of Federal funding!
Prove me wrong or hang your head in shame!!
We can and must do better!
Our gas and the concept that household prices won’t fall- Now come on, be honest you’ve heard better BS stories living in the NT!
Vote for someone that gives a shit!
Darren compared to the ACT we are only amateur bludgers
I’ve been waiting for the NT Independant to run an article on Albansleazies 10M fund for Maternity ward upgrades!- hasn’t happened!
Ty out haven’t heard anyone mention the following- you know that!
Here goes!
If l was Albanese l would have asked:
(1) Show me evidence of expenditure on RDH and furthermore how much of the federally funded budget for NT health has been spent on the Maternity Ward
(2) show me that the money spent on NT health has equaled the NT budget request
(3) show and explain to me why Federally funded moneys for Palmerston Hospital has been spent on a facility that has no Maternity Ward
(4) explain to me why a fire rated wall has been installed that covers unused space next to PRH operating thestres, a space where an ICU etc should have been built!
(5) Explain to me why a wall has been built to hide what was funded to be the maternity ward- Why were maternity ward baths installed that did not meet Australian standards
(6) Explain to me why no open surgeries are conducted at PRH
(7) Explain to me why PRH is constant tested for legionnaires disease and the lack of hot water
The list goes on and on and alot of people don’t n Government need to be subjected to not only scrutiny and questioning but also inability proceedings!
Labor and Albanese are to stupid to realise what a true leader can and must do before handing over hard earned tax dollars, money sourced from everyday Australians not residing in the Territory!
You don’t ask, you don’t query and that is exactly why the ALOCLP will continue to blind side you!
You don’t care and that’s why they get away with it!
It bothers me, seriously, that families welcoming their new loved ones have to travel so far in support of mothers, wives and loved ones giving birth!
Why doesn’t it bother YOU! Rural families are a 90 km turnaround trip to RDH- let’s not get onto fuel price, fatigue etc.
Anyway it’s spa and Merlot time- l can’t do any more at this time BUT believe me l want to kick arse big time and they know it!
Darren what are open surgeries? Most of your other questions are answered by the fact that $340,000,000 in health money was spent trying to develop an IT system and, unbelievably, people involved in this disaster were promoted.
2016-21 Newscorp NT News Editor Matt Williams was a networked cash cow like Melanie Plane who attends glamorous events then publishes CLP propaganda. Include ex-journo Bethany Maley who is employed as Beetaloo Digital Media content curator who happens to be CLP Lawyer Peter Maley wife (ex-wife Withnalls Lawyer Vanessa Farmer) Gerard Maley sister-in-law, yet this information was buried? This connection is in ‘the public interest’ to understand conflicts of interests & integrity. Independent & social media is more reliable than Darwin legacy media who are part of the Uniparty who manipulate the truth. Books to read:
The men who killed the news by Eric Beecher
So you’ve been publically shamed by Jon Ronson
NT Health is a joke. They demand the highest level of compliance from their nurses of any other state or territory in Australia. They can’t get permanent nurses. I’d love to know the numbers of agency nurses working here. That’s where the millions are going. I was part of the first guinea pig rollout of ACACIA at Katherine Hospital. We all knew that was a failure. They plowed on, ignoring all the advice. I laugh when they demand every certificate known to man, but the Mob running the show are uneducated, and as useless as a two bob watch. It’s time for some real governance, good governance, in the Northern Territory before it’s too late. There’ll be no tourism dollars because the CLP/ALP are destroying the very beauty that people are coming to see. RIP NT