In the red soil of the Top End a new ‘silver bullet’ industry is emerging: cotton.

The Northern Territory government is rolling out the red carpet for this controversial crop as part of its huge development plans, but growers are already pushing the boundaries. 

This Four Corners exposes a system riven by allegations of conflicts of interest that threatens to destroy some of the NT’s most famous tourism destinations.

All the while, ignoring the interests of traditional owners and warnings from scientists.

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Beneath the red dirt
02:29 – Water Grab
04:06 – ‘A silver bullet’
06:25 – ‘Cotton is a dirty word’
07:43 – ‘Water is free’
08:30 – Pastoral lease
10:12 – Traditional owners
12:30 – Native Title Act
15:00 – Land Clearing
17:20 – Cotton Gin
21:20 – Constructing dams
23:35 – Thermal springs
24:08 – Roper River
27:20 – Speaking out
33:15 – Northern Territory Land Corporation
36:40 – ‘Bullied and ignored’
38:55 – 'Ignoring science’
41:22 ‘Ethically and morally right’
43:50 ‘Water is free’

This episode was originally broadcast as ‘Water Grab’ on 19 August 2024 on ABC TV and ABC iview.

Read more about Four Corners’ investigation here: https://ab.co/3XjQL1L

Four Corners is Australia’s premier investigations documentary series.

Follow Four Corners on Facebook:   / abc4corners  

Subscribe to the Four Corners weekly newsletter: https://www.abc.net.au/news/subscribe

Find out more at the Four Corners website: https://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/...

Note: In most cases, our captions are autogenerated.

#ABCNewsIndepth #ABCNewsAustralia