NT parliament passes bill to monitor toxic gas emissions on Darwin Harbour
A new law will establish six monitoring stations to track cancer-causing benzene and other toxic compounds from gas companies by mid-2027.
Northern Territory parliament passed the 'safe air' bill on Thursday, allowing an independent monitoring scheme for toxic air pollutants from the gas industry on Darwin Harbour. The scheme will measure volatile organic compounds like benzene, which causes cancer, starting by mid-next year.
Six new monitoring stations will track emissions across the harbour, with industry paying for the system. The move follows scandals: Inpex under-reported benzene emissions by 13,000 per cent and toluene by 11,000 per cent, while ConocoPhillips and Santos covered up a decades-long methane leak at their facility.
Independent MP Justine Davis criticised the bill for omitting key details about safe air thresholds, which toxins will be measured, and enforcement, saying details will be left to regulations written behind closed doors.
- Six
- Monitoring stations to be installed
- 13,000 per cent
- Benzene under-reporting by Inpex
- 11,000 per cent
- Toluene under-reporting by Inpex
- Middle of 2027
- Scheme operational by
Why it mattersTerritorians will finally know whether air around Darwin Harbour is safe as the region develops more heavy industry, based on independent data rather than company reports.
AustraliaResidents around Darwin Harbour and Northern Territory workers in gas facilities gain the first public monitoring of toxic air linked to cancer, asthma and respiratory disease.
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