By David Shearman

Many scientists, doctors and citizens of the Northern Territory are aghast at the NT and our national government’s enthusiastic plans for a gas exporting hub and polluting industries such as petrochemicals.

The question is whether those living in Darwin are truly aware of the disadvantages to be imposed on them. They are unlikely to find out from a predominant part of the NT media, or the government.

It is of great concern that the NT Government sees itself as honest by publishing this press release entitled Securing future of our gas industry” which was reproduced in the media.

Is it honest to omit crucial information essential for the community’s well being? Surely it is akin to the tobacco industry producing articles on the attributes of their product without mentioning cancer? Absent from the article are the words “human health” and the statement from the climate minister never mentions climate change.

One wonders if citizens of the Northern Territory have access to Australia Institute petitions on fracking published in daily newspapers, for example, the petition from 96 scientists and experts asking the Northern Territory Government to stop fracking and protect our climate.

At the heart of the matter is that every city in the world that has become a gas hub attracts associated polluting industries. Today, the demand is for cities with clean air.

In an unloved Darwin, those who can afford to move, go to suburbs as far away from industry as possible where there is less air pollution and more leafy surrounds. The sections of city nearer to industry and gas will be poorer with falling house prices, deteriorating facilities and services – health and education will become inadequate and the local environment will deteriorate.

How do we know?

These changes have occurred in every city in the United States of America which has become a gas exporting hub with surrounding industries. One such current battle over a gas hub and its potential pollution is described here.

READ: Opinion: Fracking for gas is a health hazard to communities

Surely, the NT Government has a duty to tell its citizens about the environment in these cities and acknowledge that economic growth from gas exports to increase national income also has the disadvantage of increasing pollution and causing many diseases.

Asthma in children and adults, chronic respiratory and heart diseases are common and shorten many lives. Most important are the health effects on the unborn and children. Pregnancies spent near gas developments such as fracking, gas pipelines – some of which commonly have leaks – and gas export hubs frequently report higher occurrences of low birth weight, pre-term delivery, spontaneous abortions, and birth defects. Distressingly, there are more children who develop blood cancers.

Gas fields use a huge amount of water, which can become polluted with cancer-causing chemicals from coal seams or shale. These chemicals are cancer promoting and threaten groundwater supplies, the land and the crops and animals depending on these.

Accompanying these events are increases in depression, anxiety and social withdrawal, and an increases in hospitalisation; in turn more hospital beds and other medical services are needed.

The NT Government has used methods of approval which do not assess these problems adequately nor do they account for the health and spiritual needs of Aboriginal people.

At the recent State of the Global Climate report launch, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said: “Sirens are blaring across all major indicators… Some records aren’t just chart-topping, they’re chart-busting. And changes are speeding-up.”

Thousands killed, millions displaced, crops failing, and vast economic losses.

The more rapid progression of climate change is breath-taking and could indicate that chaos is soon likely in all countries, including Australia.

We should be concerned that the developments in Darwin will play a significant role in increasing world emissions which are causing chaos and economic loss and many deaths. It is beyond belief that our governments never acknowledge that our coal and gas production causes 540,000 deaths each year around the world.

Of high relevance to the NT is the report from former Australian Defence Force chief Admiral Chris Barrie, and his team, saying that the federal government either doesn’t understand, or is hiding from the public, the risk of climate change to national security. They say mass migration, food insecurity and other climate risks must be addressed by government and the ADF.

The report points out the particular risks to the NT from increased temperatures and extreme weather events; pollution will cause an increase in mortality as temperatures rise and some regions will become unliveable due to temperature.

Unfortunately, the government’s own report has not been released and there is much speculation why.

All Territorians must read Admiral Barrie’s report.

David Shearman is an emeritus professor of medicine at the University of Adelaide. He has previously held positions at Edinburgh and Yale universities and hospitals. Prof Shearman is also the author of several books relating to climate change, and was a contributor to two working groups of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, on human health, and on Australasian biodiversity issues. For more information visit his web site.