Minister to ignore federal lobbying on Xstrata mine

The Northern Territory Minister for Mines, Chris Natt, says he was unaware Prime Minister John Howard had written to the Chief Minister about the McArthur River Mine, until it was mentioned on the ABC.

On Monday, the 7:30 Report revealed Mr Howard wrote to Clare Martin last month, urging the expansion of the McArthur River Mine, near the Gulf of Carpentaria, be finalised.

The mine's owner, Xstrata, wants to turn the mine into an open cut operation but to do that it needs to divert a five-kilometre stretch of the river.

Mr Natt, who will decide whether the expansion goes ahead, says correct procedure will be followed despite the high-profile lobbying.

"I was totally unaware that the letter had been written until I saw the 7:30 Report, but I can assure you that that letter will not enter into my considerations - there is a process to go through and I'll be sticking rigidly with that process," he said.

"I'll take into concerns of the public into account and various organisations that I've spoken to, but there'd be no other influences, outside influences, and the due process will be undertaken."