Traditional owners from three First Nations are asking super funds to use their investment power to convince gas giant Santos to drop its Barossa and Narrabri projects.
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Tiwi Islanders and Larrakia traditional owners oppose Santos' Barossa gas project, 285km offshore from Darwin.
The Federal Court has found Tiwi traditional owners were not properly consulted when Santos was given approval for drilling.
Gomeroi traditional owners in northwest NSW, meanwhile, have been fighting Santos' proposal to drill more than 850 coal seam gas wells in the Pilliga forest for the Narrabri project.
Traditional owners have joined farmers and climate activists to protest against the project, which has approval from the NSW and federal governments.
The national native title tribunal has previously ruled Santos could continue the project without consent from the Gomeroi people, who have been opposing it under the banner 'Gamil means no'.
Traditional owners voted 162-2, with four abstentions, to reject a deal with the gas company.
The Federal Court has heard a Gomeroi appeal against the tribunal decision and is yet to rule.
Karra Kinchela, Gomeroi/Gamilaraay traditional owner, said they wouldn't allow the Pilliga to be damaged to a point where it would not return to its natural state.
"With at least 90 cultural sites, the most abundant wildlife and biodiversity, there is no other place like it in Australia," she said.
Equity Generation Lawyers this week released a report saying Australian super funds were failing to prevent human rights impacts arising from their investment in Santos.
"The report finds not a single fund confirmed it would use its stake in Santos to attempt to stop the Barossa and Narrabri projects that lack consent from Tiwi, Larrakia and Gomeroi traditional owners," they said.
The lawyers said a failure of the funds to disclose details of engagement with Santos and a lack of human rights and grievance policies, suggested they were breaching human rights principles.
"The Juukan Gorge inquiry found that superannuation funds have a responsibility to hold companies accountable for actions expected to harm cultural and spiritual heritage," they said.
"Santos shows no sign of abandoning either project, which shows that funds are failing their responsibilities to traditional owners."
Tiwi elder Pirrawayingi Puruntatameri said their connection to sea country had existed since the creation of time.
"We want investors that we've met with to listen and act accordingly, to respect what we say.
"No money can buy back what we risk losing if this project goes ahead."
Santos said it had been widely consulting on the Barossa project since the start of 2023.
In a report released this week, Santos said it had completed First Nations underwater cultural heritage assessment required prior to pipe laying at Barossa.
Santos notified the regulator in October of its plans to commence pipe laying for the Barossa gas project.
The company said it was continuing to progress land access agreements and environmental surveys in relation to the Pilliga project, with planning underway for construction.
Australian Associated Press
