Gomeroi Traditional Owners win appeal against Santos’ Narrabri Pilliga Gas Project
6 March 2024 - The Federal Court of Australia has today, 6 March 2024, ruled that the Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Santos Narrabri Pilliga Gas Project were not adequately assessed in light of the Gomeroi Native Title claim. The Court found that the negative impact of the project on climate change would fundamentally disrupt the rights of the Gomeroi people under their Native Title claim.
Sue Higginson spokesperson for the Environment and Climate Change says, “This is a groundbreaking win for the Gomeroi Traditional Owners, the future of claims such as this in Australia and all communities facing the impacts of climate change,”
“The Gomeroi people have taken on gas giant Santos and won. This is a huge victory for the environment, a massive win for the planet and a beacon of hope for future appeals,”
“The ruling, made on the basis that greenhouse gas emissions from the project were not assessed properly and will therefore have negative impacts on the Gomeroi Native Title Claim sets a massive precedent for the future of similar appeals,”
“The Federal Court found that the Native Title Tribunal fell into legal error by dismissing the expert evidence of climate scientist, the late Professor Will Steffen”
“What we have seen today is that it is possible to take on these giants and win, it is appalling that First Nations communities are carrying the burden of taking on these mining giants. It’s It is now up to the NSW Government and Santos to walk away from this disastrous project,”
“The ruling today is a clear indictment of the continuation of projects such as these. We already know there is no social licence for new coal and gas, and now the Federal Court has ruled the same way,” said Ms Higginson.