MEDIA RELEASE
Gomeroi Traditional Owners, unions and crossbench MPs unite against Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project
25 October 2024
Gomeroi traditional owners and Union members including members from the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association, New South Wales Teachers Federation, Maritime Union of Australia, and Lock The Gate Alliance, united to speak with members of the NSW Government about the importance and cultural significance of the Pilliga Forest to the Gomeroi, as well as raise their concerns around the climate and health impacts from CSG mining associated with the proposed expansion of the Narrabri gas project and the part the state plays in the Native Title redetermination.
Michelle Cutmoore from the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association & Gomeroi woman says ‘I’m against the destruction of Gomeroi lands & Cultural sites, it will block reclamation of culture and be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of Mob.’
Proud Gomeroi woman Karra Kinchella says ‘I’ve been lobbying at NSW Parliament to speak to politicians about the Narrabri Gas project & pipelines. Joining with Unions to gather support and show there is no social license for the Narrabri Gas Project and the government needs to back their promise from the election around climate and a just transition to renewables.’
Peggy Smith from the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives association says ‘We are asking the state government to follow its own Climate Change Act and ministerial statements on energy and emissions, and follow up on those commitments to develop a Gas Decarbonisation Roadmap, while acknowledging Close the Gap targets and the negative detriments to health and environment that this gas project and associated pipelines will affect.’
Thomas Mayo, the MUA’s Assistant ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Secretary joined the delegation at NSW Parliament and commended the grassroots organising across unions to defend Gomeroi cultural sites and First Nations’ peoples rightful claims to their land.
“We are seeing a groundswell of activism at the intersection between environmentalism, climate action and First Nations justice. CSG will wreck the local environment, increase emissions and prevent Gomeroi people from exercising their lawful claim under Native Title laws,” Mr Mayo said.
“The NSW Government should listen to the Gomeroi people, the science and the economic reality that the Santos CSG mining project will be more damaging than beneficial. Job and energy prospects from the nearby offshore wind farm zone that Federal Minister Chris Bowen recently announced are far more promising for the region’s future,” Mayo added.
There was one question that reoccurred throughout the day of meetings and that was, “Are you meeting with the Minister for natural resources Courtney Houssos?”
Unfortunately Courtney Houssos has not responded to requests to meet with the First Nations representatives, however they are all still very eager to meet and discuss their concerns with her.
Background:
In 2022, Gomeroi Traditional Owners voted overwhelmingly against Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project. If built, Santos would drill 850 gas wells on farmland and in the Pilliga Forest. Gomeroi people consider the forest and groundwater sacred.
Later that year, the Native Title Tribunal ruled in favour of Santos. However, Gomeroi Traditional Owners challenged that decision in the Federal Court.
In a first of its kind, the Federal Court ruled in March this year that the Native Title Tribunal should have considered the Narrabri Gas Project’s contribution to climate change when applying the public interest test. The NGP is expected to be responsible for at least 120 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution if built.>
Relevant parties to proceedings, which includes the NSW Government, are now supplying information to the Native Title Tribunal, and the Tribunal is expected to make a new determination early next year.
If the Gomeroi are successful, it will only be the fourth time in Australian history that a Traditional Owner group has successfully overturned a major project approval through the NTT (and the first time outside of Western Australia).
