Leadfish and shale gas: resistance in the Northern Territory

Near Borroloola, NT, the McArthur River Mine continues it's scandalous modus operandi by failing to deal with toxic discharge contaminating the river and the smouldering pile of waste rock. Documents recently obtained via freedom of information legislation reveal the Northern Territory Government's conclusion that to manage the smouldering waste rock pile, the McArthur River Mine must backfill the pit and cease mining.

The cowboy operator continues to defy the law, digging itself into further debt and threatening local Traditional Owners with the removal of services if they protest the mine. Having lost the food resource of their river due to lead contamination, the Borroloola Traditional Owners are calling for the mine to be shut down and fully rehabilitated.

Conrad Rory and Lauren Mellor also tell us about the cross-movement meeting organised by US activist and author Naomi Klein, which they attended.

Resistance to shale gas fracking is heating up with remote communities united by the Northern Territory Frack Free Alliance. Tanya Hall tells us more.

Guests:

Conrad Rory, Traditional Owner for Borroloola, NT and member of the Sandridge Band.

Lauren Mellor, Environment Centre NT.

Tanya Hall, Frack Free NT.

Photo: Traditional Owners cross over the contaminated McArthur River at the Borroloola Frackdown, an international day of protest against fracking in October 2014.