The demand for reliable, domestically sourced energy has never been more critical for Australia.

First gas from the Beetaloo Basin is more than an important industry milestone – it’s a major step towards unlocking billions of dollars in investment, thousands of jobs and new economic opportunities for the Northern Territory. The start of gas production from Tamboran’s Beetaloo operation is the culmination of years of exploration, investment and rigorous assessment. The scale of investment to date provides a glimpse of what a fully developed Beetaloo could deliver for the Territory.

For Territorians, the potential benefits are significant.

Developing the Beetaloo will secure the Territory’s long-term energy needs, create jobs and opportunities for local businesses, contractors and suppliers, and generate government revenue that helps fund the infrastructure and essential services Territorians rely on.

Importantly, many of these benefits will flow into regional and remote communities.

The Territory already knows what a strong gas industry can deliver. Natural gas provides more than 80 percent of the Territory’s electricity, while major LNG projects, such as Ichthys and Barossa, support thousands of jobs, local businesses and billions of dollars of economic activity every year.

The Beetaloo has the potential to build on that foundation and become another major pillar of the Territory’s economy, attracting further investment and new nation-building opportunities.

The immense scale of the Beetaloo’s gas resources makes it ideally placed to supply the east coast gas market, meet growing regional LNG demand and attract investment in the data centres driving the digital economy.

Australia will continue to need new gas supply to support households, manufacturers and a reliable electricity system. The Beetaloo can play an important role in meeting those needs and strengthening Australia’s energy security.

Realising that potential will require continued investment and the right policy settings. The Northern Territory Government deserves credit for recognising the importance of unlocking the Beetaloo’s potential.

Its focus on streamlining approvals and cutting red tape, while maintaining strong environmental standards, sends a clear signal that the Territory is open for business.

That approach stands in stark contrast to the Greens, who have sought to stop new oil and gas development, including the Beetaloo. Had that agenda prevailed, the Beetaloo would never have reached production and its enormous potential for the Territory would have remained unrealised.

That matters because investment is never guaranteed. The Territory competes with jurisdictions around Australia and the world for the capital needed to develop major projects.

Investors will choose places with stable policy, efficient regulation and where they have confidence that projects which meet the required standards can proceed without unnecessary delays.

First gas demonstrates what is possible.

The task ahead is to build on this momentum and ensure the jobs, investment and economic opportunities created by the Beetaloo benefit Territorians for generations to come. TQ