NT Traditional Owners Take Legal Action In South Korea To Stop $1 Billion Santos Gas Funding
"This gas project puts our way of life at risk."
Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory have launched legal action in Seoul to try stop Santos from pushing ahead with a multi-billion dollar gas project.
Lawyers for a group from the Tiwi Islands and Larrakia country filed an injunction on Wednesday against two South Korean banks lined up to loan nearly $950 million to Australia’s biggest domestic gas supplier for their Barossa development project in the Timor Sea.
They say they never gave consent to Santos to build the conjoining Top End pipeline, despite Santos claiming they have the needed approvals under their belt already, according to the Australian Financial Review. The pipeline would run underwater between the offshore gas field and a facility on Darwin Harbour.
“Santos did not fully explain their plans to build a gas pipeline along our coast, and did not explain any of the risks,” said Jikilaruwu man Daniel Munkara to the AAP. “This gas project puts our way of life at risk,” he said, expressing concern over the threats to marine life, the environment, and cultural practices.
“By taking the South Korean Government to court to stop this gas project, we are protecting our family and our land,” said Jikilaruwu clan leader Daniel Munkara in a statement through the Stop Barossa Gas campaign.
Last week, Gomeroi people in NSW also rejected a proposal from Santos at a Native Title meeting over their plans to build 850 coal seam gas wells in the Pilliga.
We Gamilaraay Ngaarr (Strong). At the native title nations meeting, we just voted NO to @SantosLtd #YaanaySantos #GamilMeansNo@IndigenousX @LukeLPearson @ruby_wharton @TameekaTighe @BarbsMac2144 @koorimailnews @NITV
— Boe ‘Gamilaraay 500’ Spearim (@boeknow) March 24, 2022
“We have a legacy of being known as the mighty Gomeroi. We bring that legacy everywhere we go, including in this meeting room,” said activist Boe Spearim on Thursday. “It’s going to be a big fight for us to make sure Santos and the government respect our ‘no’ vote, but I know we have the power to defeat Santos.”
Santos locked in the $3.6 billion Barossa development last year, and it is expected to generate nearly 4 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas.
Photo Credit: Stop Barossa Gas