The Northern Territory government has given the green light to full-scale gas production in the Beetaloo Basin, five years after lifting a moratorium on fracking. 

However, the approval comes with controversy as analysts refute the government's claim that it met all 135 recommendations of the 2018 Pepper Inquiry before approving the industry. 

According to critics, key recommendations are still outstanding, including Recommendation 9.8, which requires the NT and federal governments to ensure no net increase to Australia's carbon emissions from fracked gas in the NT. 

The government's own independent officer overseeing the Pepper Inquiry's implementation, David Ritchie, also refuted the claim in his final report.

Meanwhile, the government's framing of gas as the best alternative to coal-fired power stations has been questioned too. 

While the government claims more gas is needed in Australia for the switch to renewables, but critics argue that it is a mistake to promote gas as the only viable alternative to coal when renewables are gaining momentum.

Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association NT director David Slama has welcomed the government's decision to allow fracking in the Beetaloo Basin. 

Slama argues that Beetaloo gas is cleaner than most fossil fuels and will play a critical role in the transition to renewables. 

He says he recognises that gas is “not going to be here forever” and that the number of fracking-related jobs in the NT would depend on how the gas was used. 

Slama estimates that between 3,000 to 4,000 jobs could be created over a 20-year period.