Northern Territory water rights are being allocated for free, raising concerns over the environmental impact and legal violations as cotton farming expands in the region.
Angus Grigg, Mary Fallon, Maddy King, and Nick Wiggins report for ABC.
In short:
- The NT government is issuing large water licenses for free, aiding developers, especially in the controversial cotton industry.
- Allegations have surfaced about misleading land-use applications, with cotton farming not being properly disclosed, raising legal and environmental concerns.
- Traditional owners and scientists warn that falling water levels threaten vital ecosystems and cultural sites.
Key quote:
"We feel that the water and us are connected and that we’re both crying for help to make the government listen to us. The water they’ve already taken is enough."
— Cecelia Lake, Mangarrayi woman
Why this matters:
Unregulated cotton farming and water extraction in the Northern Territory threaten the environment, local ecosystems and Indigenous lands. The expansion could lead to irreversible damage and legal conflicts.
