Exposing the territory handing out millions of dollars of water, for free | Four Corners

In the red soil of the Top End a new ‘silver bullet’ industry is emerging: cotton.

The Northern Territory government is rolling out the red carpet for this controversial crop as part of its huge development plans, but growers are already pushing the boundaries. 

This Four Corners exposes a system riven by allegations of conflicts of interest that threatens to destroy some of the NT’s most famous tourism destinations.

All the while, ignoring the interests of traditional owners and warnings from scientists.

EDITOR'S NOTE: October 17, 2024: On the 14th of August the Northern Territory Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security released a ‘Regulatory Statement – Water Quality Investigation Elsey Creek’ in response to concerns about changes in water quality in Elsey Creek.

https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_f...

The department says testing it completed on 19th June 2024 did not indicate any significant change in water quality.

Experts Professor Jenny Davis, and Professor Matthew Currell say the regulatory statement is useful but stress it is incomplete and inconclusive.

The department says the investigation is ongoing.


CHAPTERS
00:00 – Beneath the red dirt
02:29 – Water Grab
04:06 – ‘A silver bullet’
06:25 – ‘Cotton is a dirty word’
07:43 – ‘Water is free’
08:30 – Pastoral lease
10:12 – Traditional owners
12:30 – Native Title Act
15:00 – Land Clearing
17:20 – Cotton Gin
21:20 – Constructing dams
23:35 – Thermal springs
24:08 – Roper River
27:20 – Speaking out
33:15 – Northern Territory Land Corporation
36:40 – ‘Bullied and ignored’
38:55 – 'Ignoring science’
41:22 - ‘Ethically and morally right’
43:50 - ‘Water is free’

This episode was originally broadcast as ‘Water Grab’ on 19 August 2024 on ABC TV and ABC iview.

Read more about Four Corners’ investigation here: https://ab.co/3XjQL1L

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