Katherine Times Wed 9 Mar 2016
Katherine Times; NewspaperNT
2016-03-09
This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.
English
Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Katherine; Katherine (N.T.) -- Newspapers
North Australian News for Katherine Times
Katherine
application/pdf
Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.
North Australian News for Katherine Times
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1968A00045
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/300758
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/373986
NEWS WednesdayMarch 09, 2016KATHERINETIMES4 katherinetimes.com.au Senator talks fracking FRACKING in the Northern Territory will be on the national agenda again next month when a Queensland senator holds a public hearing in Darwin on unconventional gas mining. Senator Glenn Lazarus secured support to convene a Senate inquiry into the human, social and environmental impacts of the controversial extraction method in 2015, and will listen to the concerns of Territorians on April 12. Unconventional gas mining is affecting people throughout the country, so I am not surprised the inquiry has received a strong response from people in other states and territories, as well as in Queensland, he said. The inquiry is a vital platform for everyone affected by unconventional gas mining to tell the Parliament of Australia how they feel about unconventional gas and its impact on their lives. Senator Lazarus said he wanted to see the creation of a national resources ombudsman and unconventional gas commissioner, in addition to ensuring that no mining activity took place where people are living, on agricultural land or fragile land. Governments must start listening to the people and formally recognise the impact unconventional gas mining is having on peoples lives, Senator Lazarus said. People need the right to say no to mining on their land. Fracking remains one of the hot button political issues in the NT and the hearing is expected to attract a big crowd, including several Katherinites. Dont Frack Katherine spokeswoman Charmaine Roth confirmed the group planned to send a contingent of members to the public hearing to have their say. Members of Don't Frack Katherine will definitely be traveling to Darwin for the public hearing with Senator Lazarus in April, she said. We think it is very important that we have a voice in the Australian debate on unconventional gas fields, because our region is identified as the next frontier for shale gas fracking and we have important water resources to protect for both our own and future generations. BY LYNDON KEANE POLITICS HAVING A VOICE: Don't Frack Katherine members will head to Darwin in April to speak at an inquiry being convened by Senator Glenn Lazarus. THE furious owner of Katherine Taxis says she grounded her fleet on March 7 on principle following a joint operation targeting commercial passenger vehicle legislative compliance. On Friday, Northern Territory Police and the Motor Vehicle Registry checked 12 taxis from various Katherine operators and issued nine infringement notices for failing to comply with the Taxi Drivers and Operators Code of Conduct. Four addition infringement notices were issued for various offences, including failing to maintain a taxi to a minimum standard and charging a fare higher than determined rate. Casey Morgan, who runs Katherine Taxis, said four of her vehicles had been checked as part of the operation and that she had made the decision to take them off the road for the night in protest. The drivers and I agreed enough was enough, she said. I trust my drivers fully. One Katherine driver was caught charging a high occupancy rate, which only applies when there are five or more passengers. Mrs Morgan said that her taxis were now operating as normal. Taxis off road in protest to check TRANSPORT