Gas Cartel rips the heart out of Gomeroi Country

In another example of the Gas Cartels influence and placing profits over people, the National Native Title Tribunal has today ruled in favour of the Santos Narrabri Gas Project, allowing the NSW Government to grant land access for gas extraction on Gomeroi Country in the Pilliga forest against the wishes of Traditional owners and locals.

This was a move demanded by Santos’ CEO, Kevin Gallagher, who called on the state and federal energy ministers to clear the way for the stalled project in February 2025. 

The Tribunal found that the gas project would bring a ‘net public benefit,’ and therefore should proceed despite large and sustained objections from Traditional Owners and community members - objections relating to health impacts, destruction of irreplaceable intangible and tangible cultural heritage and a total disregard for free, prior, informed consent. Objections were raised through every available legal and political avenue for more than a decade.

This decision also clears the way for up to 850 gas wells to be drilled across land that holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Gomeroi people.

Today, research from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis  confirms that new coal and gas projects are what we already know, they are for profit - the only thing this gas will do is be used for Japan's commercial advantage of on-selling Australia’s gas on the spot market. 

Comments attributable to Greens portfolio holder for Resources, Trade, Tourism, First Nations and North Australia, and Yamatji Noongar woman, Senator Dorinda Cox:

“This decision is not just a betrayal of the First Nations people, but of every Australian. There were more than 23,000 objections including Traditional Owners and special interest groups concerned about critically endangered species, health, climate and water, that were outright ignored by this tribunal.”

“Yet again a fossil fuel company rammed through another environment and climate-wrecking gas project, in the middle of a climate crisis. Santos' CEO and the cartels have no shame when it comes to profits and were out demanding approval and pulling the strings of the state and federal governments. What this shows is that state-level approval processes are completely captured by corporate interests as the system bent over backwards to keep fossil fuels flowing. We can’t leave decisions this big to stacked tribunals and state governments that are deep in bed with gas cartels.”

“Let’s be clear: the Gomeroi people have never given their free, prior and informed consent to this project. The Tribunal’s decision to override their voices sends a loud message -  that mining profits are still more important than irreplaceable cultural heritage and environmental impacts, even in 2025. This is a complete attack on our precious and irreplaceable country, waterways and way of being. The Pilliga is sacred Country. It is not just land - it is law, story, water, and spirit.”

"As the 5th anniversary nears for Juukan Gorge, which should have been the catalyst for change, this decision shows lessons have not been learnt. In addition, the Northern Territory has overnight passed the Sacred Sites Act that will make it even easier to fast-track approvals. Something has to change, and that starts with good strong legislation for cultural heritage and Federal leadership and oversight”