NT Country Liberal Party (CLP) leader Mr Mills, who defeated his Labor counterpart Paul Henderson in the Northern Territory elections in late August, presented to a 50-strong crowd on his vision for a “˜three hub’ economy in the Territory.
Mr Mills said projects with pipelines would be “˜a continuing priority’ for the then yet-to-be-elected CLP, as would be providing certainty to industry and its major investment decisions.
It would be a priority to bring additional gas onshore so that the Territory can participate in the opportunities and benefits from developing and delivering downstream processing.
The CLP would build on the current capacity of Wickham Point and Blaydin Point with its ideas for gas-based industry at Glyde Point.
The CLP does not champion a gas reservation policy as in Western Australia, but Mr Mills said it is prepared to discuss real industry and real activity driven by local resources on a commercial basis, for example, additional pipeline networks making gas available for major mining projects, or linking to a national grid.
A new pipeline network would deliver energy, and other services such as improved transport infrastructure, and communications, and open up the country to jobs and investment.
While the immediate focus is offshore, the CLP is encouraging onshore explorers to look deep in the earth for shale gas deposits and bring that opportunity online, supported of course by pipelines and infrastructure, and real jobs in the regional centres.
Mr Mills said there should be less bureaucratic delay and red tape in major projects in the Territory.
Proud sponsors of the Darwin Dinner were APA Group and Fyfe Earth Partners.