Santos could drill for new gas in Beetaloo basin within weeks as Murray Watt urged to ‘do his job’

Environment Centre of the Northern Territory warns it could be ‘gateway to full-scale fracking in the territory’

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Santos could begin new drilling for gas in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo basin within weeks after the Finocchiaro government granted approval for up to 12 wells.

The decision, published late last month, has prompted calls from environment groups for the federal environment minister, Murray Watt, to use his powers to “call in” the development for an assessment of its potential effects on water and threatened species under national nature laws.