Oceania: Divi Islanders Win Against Oil Company

There are oil and gas fields beyond Australia’s Tiwi Islands that the Santos group wants to develop. On the other hand, residents complain that they see their nature being destroyed. With success: the team must stop drilling – for now.

Dennis dances on the beach in Dipaglipa. He and the indigenous people of the Divi Islands have won – at least for now. Australia’s Federal Court recently ruled that Santos’ drilling permit was invalid. “I am the happiest man in the world,” says Dipakalipa.

The Divi Islands are home to hundreds of animal and plant species found nowhere else in the world – and a drilling site, multiple ships and a potential oil spill could put all of these at risk, says Therese Burke, an indigenous person at the local environmental centre. The water around the islands is very important to the residents: “First, it gives us food. Second, it connects us to our ancestors.” Rare turtles lay their eggs on the islands. Whales, crocodiles and rare manatees swim in the waters off the islands. Indigenous peoples see this diversity threatened by drilling.

People don’t have enough information

In the first ruling, the Australian Federal Court has now ruled in favor of the islanders. The oil and gas company didn’t adequately inform indigenous peoples about the project, explains lawyer Alina Leikin, who helped negotiate the case. The verdict has a signaling effect around the world. “It raises the standard that drilling companies have to meet,” Leekin says: “The ruling also shows that corporations can no longer ignore Aboriginal peoples.”

About 30 people involved in the investigation traveled to the Divi Islands during the investigation. It was a very important moment for the residents, Leikin says: they could have shown their dances, songs and untouched nature to the court. Traditions they want to preserve and pass on to future generations. “We want to continue fishing and not have to live on fast food for the next few decades,” says Thibagalippa.

Drilling kit

According to activists, the Barossa gas field in the Tiwi Islands is considered the most emissions-intensive in Australia. Extracting the gas releases huge amounts of CO2. An ominous sign at a time when the world needs to try to slow climate change, native Prawayingi says. He’s felt the weather change over the years: “It’s supposed to be cool in the dry season, but we notice the temperature is changing, it’s getting warmer.”

Oil and gas company Santos must now stop drilling and tow the rig back to Darwin Harbour. For the group, it is about billions, the project is already half completed. The first test drilling was carried out in the summer.

In a statement following the ruling, Santos wrote: “The Barossa is an important gas project for the country, creating jobs, exports and strengthening our relationships with investors and gas consumers in Asia who have relied on Australia’s secure energy for decades.”

The appeal process is as follows

The group says it has submitted an environmental plan and consulted with local bodies and therefore does not understand the regulator’s approval being revoked. So the news release says: “Uncertainty surrounding project approval is an issue the Australian government urgently needs to address to reduce risk to trade and investment in projects across the country.”

Santos appealed the ruling. The court hearing will be held from November 15. The inhabitants of the Divi Islands hope that they too will win this process – for their country and for the environment.