Native Title Tribunal Greenlights Santos Gas Mining in Pilliga Forest

Gomeroi People Vow to Keep Fighting as Native Title Tribunal Greenlights Santos Gas Mining in Pilliga Forest

20 May 2025 – In a deeply controversial decision handed down today, the Native Title Tribunal has cleared the way for multinational gas company Santos to proceed with its coal seam gas project in the Pilliga Forest, overriding the objections of the Gomeroi Traditional Owners who have fought for nearly a decade to protect their ancestral lands.

The ruling paves the way for the extraction of gas from 850 planned wells in and around the Pilliga, despite the forest’s status as an ecologically significant and culturally sacred landscape. Traditional Owners say the decision effectively silences their voices and hands power to a fossil fuel giant determined to sell Australian gas to global markets.

“Our Concerns Have Been Dismissed”

The Gomeroi people have made their position clear: they do not consent to the destruction of the Pilliga. In March 2022, the Gomeroi Nation voted 162 to 2 against entering into any agreement with Santos. The project, which has long faced fierce opposition from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, threatens not only the cultural heritage of the Gomeroi but also the environment, groundwater systems, and climate.

Gomeroi Custodians Decry Native Title Tribunal’s Decision Over Pilliga Forest Gas Project

The Gomeroi people have expressed deep anguish and frustration following the National Native Title Tribunal’s ruling to approve Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project, despite the community’s steadfast opposition. The decision grants Santos permission to mine coal seam gas on Gomeroi Country, including the ecologically and culturally significant Pilliga Forest.

While the Tribunal acknowledged the Gomeroi’s “clear and consistent” lack of consent, it nonetheless ruled in favour of Santos. Gomeroi custodians say this is a betrayal not only of their sovereign rights, but also of environmental justice.

“This is not the end of the story though. We’re not giving up and we know you won’t either,” they said, pointing out that the Narrabri Lateral and Hunter Gas Pipelines still require approvals under the Native Title Act and planning processes remain incomplete.

The Tribunal itself accepted expert evidence submitted by the Gomeroi Applicant Group, which was left unchallenged by Santos or the NSW Government. This included scientific testimony about the devastating climate impacts the project may have on the fragile ecosystems of the Pilliga and the health of Aboriginal communities.

Notably, Professor Brendan Mackey warned that 107 threatened species in the forest are highly vulnerable to climate change – a claim that went uncontested.

The Gomeroi people also highlighted that NSW Labor’s own gas policy recognises the need to phase out methane and other greenhouse gases to meet net zero targets by 2050. Despite this, the NSW Government sided with Santos during the Tribunal proceedings.

As Gomeroi Traditional Custodian Karra Kinchela from Narrabri said, “Our cultural practices – ceremony, hunting, fishing – depend on the health of these river systems and artesian waters. We are Gali dhiiyaan, Water Family. Please continue to stand with Gamilaraay and protect Pilliga.”

Today’s decision is seen by many as a devastating blow to justice and self-determination.

Unions and Community Outraged by the Tribunal’s Decision

In a show of solidarity, a broad and diverse coalition has rallied behind the Gomeroi—one that includes environmentalists, farmers, teachers, health professionals, and powerful unions.

“We believe that the right to land is fundamental to the cultural identity and survival of Indigenous peoples. The ruling is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by First Nations communities in asserting their rights,”
— Vanessa Seagrove, President, Unions NSW

The Nurses and Midwives Association condemned the greenlight for more fossil fuel extraction:

“Nurses and midwives must use our voice to advocate for real action on climate change – this means no new fossil fuel extraction should occur. The NSWNMA commits our ongoing support for the right of the Traditional Owners of this land to have their voice heard,”
— Michael Whaites, Assistant General Secretary, NSWNMA

Teachers echoed the call for justice. The Independent Education Union NSW/ACT Branch noted that the Tribunal had received over 23,700 submissions against the project, and only 300 in favour—a landslide of public opposition the decision ignored.

“The IEU acknowledges the tenacity and courage of the Gomeroi in their David and Goliath struggle against Santos. We recommit to supporting the Gomeroi against Santos’ plans to inflict environmental and cultural vandalism on the Pilliga,”
— David Towson, Deputy Secretary, IEUA NSW/ACT Branch

The Electrical Trades Union warned that this ruling not only disrespects Native Title but undermines the emerging renewable energy workforce in the region:

“This disgraceful decision to side with deep-pocketed fossil fuel company Santos will undermine First Nation land rights and give less job security and certainty to workers involved in nearby renewable energy zone projects,”
— Allen Hicks, Secretary, ETU NSW

A Line in the Sand

The strongest words may have come from the Maritime Union of Australia’s Sydney Branch Secretary, Paul Keating:

“This is a catastrophic failure of justice for the Gomeroi people. If the Government doesn’t take action to fix this, then the Union movement will. We will do what we have to in order to stop this project. Make no mistake, we will not stand by while faceless multinational corporations trash cultural and natural heritage.”

Not Over Yet

“But this story is far from over. We’re not giving up—and we know our allies won’t either,” Gomeroi Traditional Custodian Karra Kinchela from Narrabri said.

The Narrabri Lateral Pipeline is yet to be assessed by the NSW Department of Planning, and both it and the Hunter Gas Pipeline still face separate approval processes under the Native Title Act.

Meanwhile, the NSW Government has yet to deliver on its commitment to create a clear roadmap to transition away from fossil gas.

While the Native Title Tribunal’s decision is a serious setback, the Gomeroi people have vowed to continue the fight. With legal avenues, community support, and a growing movement determined to hold governments and corporations accountable, the battle for the Pilliga is far from over.

As the climate crisis deepens, and as Australia’s energy future sits at a crossroads, this fight may come to define the nation’s willingness to listen to First Nations people—or ignore them once again.

Follow us for updates on this developing story and coverage of the growing resistance against Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project.