Beetaloo Energy reaches final sign-off for NT fracking project
Beetaloo Energy, a gas company operating in the NT’s Beetaloo basin, said it has reached a final investment decision (a developer’s formal approval to proceed with a specific project) for its Carpentaria fracking project after the Northern Territory government recently signed an agreement to see gas flow from mid-next year.
Earlier this week, the NT deputy chief minister, Gerard Maley, said the project would help “save the territory” and would “literally keep the lights on”.
In a letter to the ASX, Beetaloo Energy, formerly known as Empire Energy, said the investment decision was a “landmark moment” for the company. The managing director, Alex Underwood, said:
This is a landmark moment for Beetaloo Energy, allowing the Company to commence gas sales from EP187 in 2026.
This [final investment decision] follows the incredible efforts of the Beetaloo Energy team whose tireless work is bringing this project to life.
We deeply appreciate the support of our shareholders, financiers, the NT Government, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we operate, and our many supporters across the Northern Territory. They all understand the critical importance of the Beetaloo Basin to drive energy security and economic prosperity for the NT, Australia and the broader region for decades to come.
Key events
Officials investigating after Victoria police memorial vandalised overnight
Victoria police are investigating the vandalism of the Victoria Police Memorial in Melbourne this morning.
Officials said they believed unknown offenders used red paint to vandalise the memorial sometime overnight. Phrases such as “good cop, dead cop” and “shame” were spray-painted on the memorial, as well as the acronym “ACAB”.
The police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Local council will attend to remove the graffiti.
NSW SES urges commuters to beware of waterlogged roads and flash flooding
The NSW State Emergency Service is warning commuters to use extra caution this morning amid heavy rainfall, urging caution around flooded roads.
The agency said the BoM is advising flash flooding remains a risk for parts of metropolitan Sydney, the Central Coast, the Hunter and central tablelands.
Nicole Hogan, the NSW SES assistant commissioner, said the heavy rain could overwhelm drainage systems and cause water over roads:
If you don’t need to be on the roads during heavy rainfall, we ask the community to delay their travel until the storm passes.
If you do come across flash flooding, the best thing to do is turn around and find another way – it’s not worth putting your life or your loved ones at risk. It doesn’t take much for vehicles to become stuck in water or washed away as you don’t know what damage has been done to the road surfaces.
Weather conditions are expected to ease later today but many areas in the state may face more thunderstorms over the weekend.
Beetaloo Energy reaches final sign-off for NT fracking project
Beetaloo Energy, a gas company operating in the NT’s Beetaloo basin, said it has reached a final investment decision (a developer’s formal approval to proceed with a specific project) for its Carpentaria fracking project after the Northern Territory government recently signed an agreement to see gas flow from mid-next year.
Earlier this week, the NT deputy chief minister, Gerard Maley, said the project would help “save the territory” and would “literally keep the lights on”.
In a letter to the ASX, Beetaloo Energy, formerly known as Empire Energy, said the investment decision was a “landmark moment” for the company. The managing director, Alex Underwood, said:
This is a landmark moment for Beetaloo Energy, allowing the Company to commence gas sales from EP187 in 2026.
This [final investment decision] follows the incredible efforts of the Beetaloo Energy team whose tireless work is bringing this project to life.
We deeply appreciate the support of our shareholders, financiers, the NT Government, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we operate, and our many supporters across the Northern Territory. They all understand the critical importance of the Beetaloo Basin to drive energy security and economic prosperity for the NT, Australia and the broader region for decades to come.
Mark Butler hopes additional billions for health deal will help strike agreement by Christmas
The health minister, Mark Butler, said the job of health ministers is to “narrow the points of difference” so the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the chief ministers of states and territories can reach a deal on hospital funding.
Butler is speaking to RN Breakfast this morning after Albanese pressed state and territory leaders to accept more than $20bn in extra spending for public hospitals to end a standoff over health funding.
Butler said:
[It is a] very substantial increase, first of all, on what they would have got under the longstanding existing agreements but also on the latest offer that had been made … So I hope that that’s going to lead the premiers and chief ministers to consider that position very seriously because we do want to strike an agreement before Christmas.
Butler also said states and territories did not make a mistake giving wage rises to healthcare workers.
Read more here:
Summer heatwave conditions predicted for Great Barrier Reef
The northern stretches of Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef are tracking towards moderate marine heatwave conditions over summer, AAP reports.
While Australia might not experience as severe heatwaves as last summer, the outlook still poses coral bleaching risks for world heritage-listed reef if newly developed long-range forecasts are accurate.
Australia’s oceans clocked their warmest 12 months on record in 2024-25, with above-average sea temperatures hitting Western Australia particularly hard, causing unprecedented coral bleaching and fish kills.
The Great Barrier Reef experienced its sixth mass bleaching event since 2016, with the northern region struck most acutely.
Marine heatwave conditions, characterised by the Bureau of Meteorology as the top 10% of above-average sea surface temperatures, are expected to be most prevalent in the Coral Sea from January to April.
Moderate heatwave conditions are also predicted for patches of south-east Tasmania this summer.
Good morning, and happy Friday. Nick Visser here to round out the week’s news. Let’s get to it.
South Australia’s corrections officers on strike
South Australia’s legal and prison systems remained in limbo overnight, AAP reports, as staff consider ending a strike that has shut down courts and forced a 96-hour lockdown for prisoners.
Corrections officers are striking over what they say is an inadequate pay offer, a surge in violence in prisons and a crisis in staffing levels caused by low wages.
More than 1,000 corrections officers across the state voted to strike on Monday and on Thursday voted to extend it to 96 hours.
The strike plunged the prison system into a four-day lockdown, with more than 2,000 inmates confined to their cells since 7.30am on Monday.
Union delegates were consulting members late on Thursday and striking staff will reconvene this morning to decide whether to take further action, or reach an agreement with the government.
– with AAP
Tom Silvagni to face court
Convicted rapist Tom Silvagni will face court today for the first time since a suppression over his identity was lifted.
The 23-year-old son of AFL great Stephen Silvagni and television personality Jo Silvagni was found guilty of two counts of rape on 5 December after a two-week trial in the Victorian county court.
He is due to face a pre-sentence hearing this morning.
There had been a suppression over his identity since he was first charged with rape in June 2024, with his lawyers arguing publication could lead to the deterioration of his mental health.
Read more here:
Tom McIlroy
You can read more on the context of Mark Butler’s meeting with state health ministers today here:
Butler and Anthony Albanese are pushing for a deal before the end of the year, ending a funding row dating back to December 2023 when states agreed to help address cost blowouts in the National Disability Insurance Scheme in exchange for more money for public hospitals.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then Nick Visser will take the controls.
State health ministers will meet their federal counterpart, Mark Butler, today as advocates for elderly Australians say shortages in aged care facilities are putting further pressure on overcrowded hospitals. The federal government is urging them to accept a $20bn boost.
More coming up.
