Questions asked of outgoing government
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Before being rolled in an election over the weekend, the former NT Government had been facing serious calls for an investigation of its water plan approvals.
The Northern Territory government has been under scrutiny for its handling of land and water regulations in support of the emerging cotton industry.
Critics allege that the government has manipulated existing laws to enable pastoralists to cultivate cotton on land designated for cattle grazing, and to utilise water resources allocated for other agricultural purposes.
The controversy gained momentum following reports last week which revealed that some NT pastoralists have been growing cotton on cattle stations without securing the necessary permits to change the land’s use.
This has raised concerns among Indigenous communities and environmental groups, who argue that these actions violate the NT's Pastoral Land Act 1992.
The outgoing NT chief minister Eva Lawler defended the government's stance - days before losing her job - asserting that it is within legal boundaries for pastoralists to use a portion of their land for non-pastoral purposes, including growing crops like cotton.
She added that crops such as cotton could be cultivated provided they do not exceed 50 per cent of the land use, and their primary purpose remains linked to the pastoral operation.
However, this interpretation has been challenged by Tony Young, a former judge and past chairman of the NT government's Pastoral Land Board.
Young contends that the law permits the cultivation of crops without a permit only if they are intended to feed cattle, not for commercial purposes like cotton production.
The NT government's guidelines also stipulate that any land clearing for non-pastoral purposes, such as agriculture, requires a concurrent application for a non-pastoral use permit.
Despite this, Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay says cotton farming on these lands is unlikely to breach legal requirements, describing the situation as “a grey area”.
Indigenous leaders and environmental groups are now advocating for federal intervention to ensure the NT government complies with its land and water laws.
Concerns have been heightened by revelations that water licences initially granted for hay production are being repurposed for cotton cultivation, which traditional owners argue threatens their water resources and cultural heritage.
Further complicating the NT government's position is the recent disclosure, through Freedom of Information (FOI) documents, that Lawler, while serving as acting environment minister, approved the largest water allocation plan in NT history within just two days.
Environmental advocates argue that these developments underscore a systemic issue within the NT government's approach to water management and land use regulation.
Some are calling for a royal commission to investigate these practices, accusing the government of disregarding both environmental sustainability and the rights of Indigenous communities.