Joshua Burgoyne, CLP Environment Minister and Member for Braitling has terminated ALEC’s funding agreement with two years left on the contract signed in 2022. The funding provided ALEC with $100,000 annually for policy and research capacity, as well as supporting “ALEC to engage with its membership to constructively and collaboratively participate in, and contribute to, the development of Territory Government’s environment policy priorities and the design and delivery of effective environmental and natural resource regulatory frameworks”.
Environment Centre NT based in Darwin on Larrakia Country has also lost its funding today.
Quotes - Alex Vaughan, Arid Lands Environment Centre, Policy Officer
“This is a deeply disappointing decision, but one which is in keeping with the disturbing, partisan and ruthless politics which is growing in 2025 across the NT, country and the world.
“ALEC has existed since 1980. We will continue to thrive, and today’s decision makes our organisation's role more important than ever. ALEC will continue to stand strong and care for the arid lands, confronting key threats from gas fracking in the Beetaloo and one of Australia’s largest groundwater licences at Singleton Station to buffel grass invasion, fires and climate change.
“This is another demonstration of a government that punches down. ALEC is a grassroots, community-led environment organisation. We are a place-based organisation that supports local people to care for arid lands environments which are foundational to community, health, culture and economy. We are an important part of the wider central deserts community.
“Cutting our funding will not stop our advocacy, nor will it stop affected communities from protecting their Country and resisting unjust development. Across the Northern Territory, in towns and out bush, communities and individuals will continue to fight to protect the environment and Country, as has been done for over 160 years.
“ALEC and ECNT have lost our funding today because we are effective and trusted. We are a threat to the CLP’s dangerous agenda to remove scrutiny, cut accountability, turbocharge gas extraction and pander to the orders and directives of big business.
“We are a community organisation that is proud of our work and today’s decision will turbocharge our advocacy, grow our support and lock in our role to listen to, work with and support communities affected by big business and CLP directed environmental harm.
“If you are angry, despondent or sad about today’s announcement, support us financially through ALEC’s Summer Appeal, become an ALEC member or volunteer with us. Collective action to care for and conserve the arid lands is how we respond to the ongoing crises the arid lands face.