"Santos’ $5.6b Barossa gas project hit with new Indigenous challenge", 18 August 2023

A claim that Santos has not properly consulted Indigenous people on a remote island 250 kilometres from Darwin threatens to further derail its key Barossa gas export project where approval issues have already put drilling on hold for a year.

Isabelle Lami Lami, a traditional owner in Minjilang, also known as Croker Island, said Santos did not consult her or her community as it sought to recover from a 2022 Federal Court rejection of an approval for offshore drilling due to the company not properly consulting with Tiwi Islanders 110 kilometres to the west.

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Lami Lami, in a statement received from her lawyer, said Santos was told to wait until the community had met to discuss how to go about the consultation. “But Santos came to the community against our wishes, they just rocked up on a helicopter,” she said.

“Santos has to consult with us in the way that is culturally appropriate for us,” Lami Lami added.

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A spokeswoman for Santos, that has been informed by letter of Lami Lami’s concerns, said company representatives visited the island in July and August after receiving the required travel permits.

“Members of the Croker Island community met with Santos representatives willingly,” she said.

“To our knowledge, the EDO represents two individuals of about 300 people on Croker Island.”

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