The Northern Territory Government is being questioned on their ability to respond to environmental disasters, following reports of a mass fish kill in Newcastle Waters, south of Katherine.

The Northern Territory EPA were notified of hundreds of dead and dying fish on January 15 but didn’t attend the site until four days later.

The site is prone to flooding, and environmentalists say the planned expansion of fracking operations in the Beetaloo Basin, means water samples must be taken quickly after an incident is reported.

Image: Image: Supplied/ S Phelan

Produced By: Mary-Kate Hannagan

Featured In Story: Dr Samantha Phelan – Veterinarian and Founder, Protect Big Rivers

First aired on The Wire, Monday 5 February 2024