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In December 2022, the Native Title Tribunal (NTT) disgracefully ruled in favour of a Santos application to over-ride Gomeroi rights and impose a massive coal seam gas development in the Pilliga forest.
Gomeroi have voted overwhelming against any deal with Santos and have never ceded sovereignty. They are appealing the NTT decision, with a hearing scheduled from August 9-11 in the Federal Court in Brisbane.
Here on Gadigal land we will rally in solidarity with Gomeroi on August 10, the second day of the hearing.
Santos' position in court is being supported by the NSW State Government and the CSG project is also backed by the Albanese federal government. They are trampling First Nations rights to destroy precious water sources, fragile ecosystems and accelerate fossil fuel expansion in the middle of a climate emergency.
Gomeroi have argued in court that Santos CSG development can not be considered "in the public interest" due to the catastrophic impacts of climate change. The current position of the court, however, is that the mega profits set to be made by Santos outweigh the cultural significance of the Pilliga for Gomeroi people.
This outrageous act of dispossession and environmental vandalism can not stand.