Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek has been urged to table legislation for stronger water protection against fracking in the Northern Territory following a poll showing majority support for the move.

A survey conducted by GetUp and Lock the Gate found more than half of Indigenous Territorians want the government to expand the water trigger proviso; legislation requiring the Federal Minister to adjudicate on gas and coal production plans which could impact water sources, and more than two-thirds of non-Indigenous people echoing the call.

The legislation currently applies to coal mining and coal seam gas projects.

Over all, 63.7 per cent of respondents surveyed in early June want to see federal government assessment widen to include all gas production in the NT. Around 18 per cent of those polled were undecided.

The federal government has flagged legislation applying to all forms of unconventional gas, including shale gas, a resource abundant in the Beetaloo Basin.

Yanyuwa-Garrwa Traditional Owner from Borroloola, Nicholas Milyari Fitzpatrick, said the "devastating impact" on water has "always" been one of the biggest concerns linked to fracking.

"It's (water) an already scarce resource in the Territory, and connects remote communities together and to their culture," he said.

"The last few months have proven just how real the threat is. Tamboran stands accused of spreading toxic drilling wastewater or run-off on not one, but three occasions, from just one exploration well site. They've shipped out massive fracking machinery from Texas, with the capacity to horizontally drill more than four kilometres across. By our calculations, that'll need at least 120 million litres of water, per well."

A further 67 per cent of respondents to the survey said they were either very concerned, or somewhat concerned, with the use of the Texan machinery in the Beetaloo Basin.

In May, a Tamboran spokesperson told National Indigenous Times the company was awaiting an outcome of an NT Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security report in regards to claims of drilling fluids transfer to sediment basins made by Beetaloo Basin cattle company, Rallen.

The spokesperson said "drilling wastewater has never been transferred to the sediment basins" and that the company "categorically denied" the allegations and "does not accept that any of those concerns (over alleged elevated mineral or metal level) are well founded or credible per extensive testing including independent laboratories undertaken by Tamboran".

A spokesperson for the NT DEPWS told National Indigenous Times the Territory's current government "has done more to strengthen regulation of the onshore petroleum industry than any previous government".

Mr Fitzpatrick said the onus is on Minister Plibersek to act now.

"Frackers like Empire Energy are hoping to receive production licences from the Territory Government as early as this year. If NT and Federal Governments want us to trust them to protect water, Minister Plibersek must urgently act on her commitment to implement the water trigger for onshore shale gas production," he said.

In May, the Minister told Radio National the expansion of the water trigger "will be part of the package of environmental laws that we'll take to the parliament at the end of this year or beginning of next year."

"We are committed to extending protections from – at the moment it's coal seam gas to other types of unconventional gas that weren't really contemplated when those coal seam gas provisions were made," Minister Plibersek said.

Lock the Gate, a national organisation advocating for the protection of natural, cultural and agricultural resources against "risky" coal mining, coal seam gas and fracking, national coordinator Carmel Flint wants to see the measures implemented sooner.

"We're seeking a commitment from Minister Plibersek that legislation will be tabled in the next sitting of Parliament to enact the changes this year as has been promised," Ms Flint said.

Minister Plibersek told National Indigenous Times the process and consultation is underway and will take time.

"The government has committed to expanding the water trigger to all forms of unconventional gas. This forms part of our Nature Positive Plan legislation which will be released for public consultation this year," Minister Plibersek said.

"When our government responded to the Juukan Gorge inquiries, we committed to reforming national heritage protection laws through a co-design process with the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance."

The Alliance was formed following Juukan Gorge's destruction and includes more than 30 First Nations member organisations across the country.

"We want to do this right – balancing urgent action with the need for comprehensive reform," Minister Plibersek said.

"The process is underway and we are doing a really thorough and thoughtful consultation with First Nations around Australia. I expect the Alliance, along with my department, to provide options to progress reform within coming months. I look forward to receiving this advice."