Chris Minns’ support of the Santos Narrabri Gas project has been called “a staggering contempt for the Indigenous and broader Narrabri community” in an escalation of tension between NSW Unions and the State Government.
“The Gomeroi Traditional Owners have again and again voted to reject this unnecessary mining project as it puts the Pilliga’s water supplies and ecosystem at risk. The Premier should be at the meeting of Gomeroi in the Pilliga to listen instead of spruiking how much money millionaires and executives can make by ignoring them. This is a staggering contempt for the First Nations people and the broader Narrabri community” said MUA National Assistant Secretary Thomas Mayo.
Shaye Candish, General Secretary, NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association said “Climate change is a critical health issue that has direct impacts upon nurses, midwives and our communities. Our union is deeply opposed to the approval of new fossil fuel ventures, and we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Gomeroi people in their fight against the Narrabri Gas project.”
Dr Nicholas Spooner, President, ASMOF NSW - The Doctors Union said “the Narrabri Gas project poses serious risks to the health of regional communities, from water and air pollution to strain on already overstretched local hospitals. Doctors are deeply concerned that the project will worsen health inequities in rural NSW, where services are already thin and outcomes already worse than the state average.”
“The Independent Education Union is proud to stand with other unions alongside the Gomeroi people in their campaign to stop the mining company Santos drilling 850 coal seam gas wells in the Pilliga region of northern NSW. No government can justify the environmental destruction and cultural vandalism of the Pilliga Forest for the sake of profit. Respecting the rights of the Gomeroi people means standing against this project and protecting Country for generations to come,” said Carol Matthews, Secretary of the IEUA NSW/ACT Branch.
Vince Caughley, Secretary of NTEU NSW Division said “Australia is already one of the world’s largest gas exporters, with most of it sold to benefit multinationals. Projects like Narrabri deliver little for domestic supply, jobs or revenue, but carry a huge cost for the climate and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Our members know this first-hand, many through direct climate research that makes clear the urgent need to move away from fossil fuels. This project undermines the secure, sustainable future NTEU members are fighting for.”
“Santos is reeling from their collapsed sale in the wake of damning revelations about unchecked gas leaks in the Northern Territory. What we’re seeing is State Governments desperately trying to throw a lifeline to their mates in a mining industry that has passed its use-by date” Maritime Union of Australia Sydney Branch Secretary Paul Keating said.
Australia is the only country in the world that allows its gas to be sold into the global market without keeping reserves aside for the Australian community. This has resulted in very expensive gas prices despite being the world’s largest gas exporter, putting substantial pressure on local manufacturers.
Research undertaken by the Centre for International Corporate Tax and Accountability Research (CICTAR) demonstrates that, despite billions in annual revenues, Australia’s largest LNG producers pay nothing in corporate income tax and will pay no royalties on the vast new supplies of offshore gas for decades to come.
“We are watching one of the greatest corporate heists in Australian history. These companies are exporting unprecedented mega-volumes of gas, not paying any tax, driving manufacturing out of the country, and gouging the community. Now they’re telling us that they need to go and build another 850 wells smack bang on top of Australia’s food bowl against the wishes of the Traditional Owners? I don’t bloody think so” said Paul Keating.
“Australian Governments can’t on the one hand claim to be supportive of First Nations people and seeking to reduce carbon emissions while at the same time approving record numbers of new coal and gas mines against the wishes of Traditional Owners. Its rank hypocrisy and we have had enough” said Allen Hicks, ETU NSW/ACT State Secretary.
“Australian state and federal governments are closing ranks and lining up behind the billionaires, and completely disregarding the interests of First Nations people. These Premieres need to listen to Gomeroi Traditional Owners that have been the custodians of this land for centuries and know the devastating impacts that this project will have on the Pilliga and the Great Artesian Basin that sits underneath it” said Unions NSW Assistant Secretary Vanessa Seagrove.
The NSW Union movement has been in strong opposition to the Santos project since the Gomeroi Nation overwhelmingly voted to reject the project at a historic meeting in March 2022. A committee of unions was formed to campaign against the project comprising representatives from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, the Australian Services Union, the Electrical Trades Union, National Tertiary Education Union, NSW Teachers Federation, the Independent Education Union, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Maritime Union of Australia and the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union.
ENDS
Media Contacts:
Thomas Mayo – 0437 650 221
Michael Whaites – 0414 550 386
Vanessa Seagrove – 0408 967 526
