Opinion article in the NT News by Samantha McCulloch, Chief Executive of Australian Energy Producers, 2 September 2026.
The first gas from the Beetaloo Sub-basin this week marks a defining milestone for the Northern Territory.
It is the culmination of more than a decade of exploration, investment and rigorous environmental assessment, and a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when governments provide the policy certainty needed to attract investment in new oil and gas projects.
The Northern Territory isn’t waiting for Australia’s energy future; it is helping build it.
At a time when Australia is focused on strengthening energy security, the Territory is proving that investment in oil and gas can deliver reliable and affordable energy, grow the economy and create lasting opportunities for regional communities.
Natural gas already provides about 84 per cent of the Territory’s electricity, while the Ichthys and Barossa LNG projects supply energy to the region, support thousands of jobs and driving economic growth.
With the Beetaloo joining them, the Territory is reinforcing its position as one of Australia’s most important energy investment destinations. That progress has not happened by accident.
The Northern Territory government, led by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, has recognised that attracting investment requires stable policy, efficient regulation and confidence that major projects can proceed.
Recent reforms to streamline approvals will cut red tape and improve regulatory certainty, strengthening the Territory’s competitiveness at a time when global investment is fiercely contested.
And, as artificial intelligence and data centres transform energy demand, the NT government is taking a pragmatic approach by backing natural gas as part of the reliable, affordable energy mix these facilities require.
This approach will help unlock investment to build a more diverse economy and create opportunities for local businesses and communities.
The Territory’s success also exposes the recklessness of the Greens’ approach to energy policy.
While the Northern Territory government has focused on creating the conditions for investment, the Greens have sought to block every new oil and gas development, with no regard for the impact on the Territory’s economic and energy future.
Had that agenda prevailed, projects such as Beetaloo would never have progressed, denying Australians much needed new gas supply, regional investment and thousands of jobs. The Beetaloo is a powerful example of what is at stake.
Beyond the Northern Territory, it has the potential to become one of Australia’s most important new sources of natural gas. That is why getting the national gas reservation scheme right is critical.
A prospective reservation framework for the east coast can play an important role if it encourages new supply and replaces the complex web of overlapping market interventions.
Australia’s energy future depends on more governments following the Northern Territory’s lead – providing policy certainty, backing new oil and gas supply, and recognising that investment, jobs, regional growth and energy security go hand-in-hand.
