Northern Territory Country Hour NT Country Hour
Aug 19, 2025
Join Tony Wood, a Senior Fellow at the Grattan Institute, and Ross Johnson, a cotton grower from Ravenshoe, as they dissect the complexities of the delayed $36 billion Santos takeover and its implications on energy investments. Ross shares his unexpected success with cotton crops in far North Queensland, highlighting innovations in local agriculture and establishment of processing facilities. The duo also touches on community resilience in agriculture amid challenges and emphasizes the optimistic outlook for the mango industry despite current pest management hurdles.
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Santos Takeover Delayed By Due Diligence
- The proposed $36bn Santos takeover by an Abu Dhabi consortium faces procedural delays but remains active.
- Tony Wood says the delay reflects deeper due diligence and internal decisions, not a definitive collapse.
Santos Viewed As Strategic Platform
- The consortium sees Santos as a platform to build a globally significant gas company and may view Santos as undervalued.
- Santos' assets across Australia and overseas make it strategically attractive despite regulatory hurdles.
Cotton Growers Hit Exceptional Yields
- Far North Queensland growers saw exceptional dryland cotton yields after a season that realigned rains and agronomy practices.
- Grower Ross Johnson reported a paddock yielding 8.6 bales per hectare, well above expectations.