Gamilaraay/Gomeroi people, union representatives, farmers, fire fighters, and environmental activists gathered in Coonabarabran for a Back the Gomeroi against Santos: Rally and Roadtrip on Saturday 12 August. The rally was in support of the Gomeroi appeal heard last week in the federal court against the Native Title Tribunal’s decision to over-ride Gomeroi rights in favour of Santos’ Pilliga Narrabri Gas Project. More information here.
Uncle Casey Dowd, who is over 80 years old, gave a powerful Welcome to Country.
The MC for this part of the rally was Gamilaraay woman, Suellyn Tighe. Suellyn spoke about the treacherous trinity of Santos, Federal and State governments, and Ernst & Young. During the week The Guardian had revealed that the consulting firm had been paid to assist the NSW government to write the ‘future of gas statement’ that paved the way for the Narrabri gas development, while at the same time working for Santos and not disclosing it. Sounds familiar……There are calls for a review
Suellyn talked about conflict of interest; independent verses pro gas consultants; money changing hands with no integrity or transparency; the push to get resources out of the ground and the use of our land, the money made when many live below the poverty line.
Chant: “Ernst & Young and Santos – dirty deeds done dirt cheap.”
Vanessa Seagrove, Assistant Secretary of the UnionsNSW, thanked the Gomeroi “for protecting these lands because it protects all of us”. She reiterated that gas is not a transition fuel, it’s a fossil fuel and in reference to governments – “it’s the dumbest decision you could make”.
Dave Bender from the Electrical Trade Union said “Santos – you can frack off” and Paddy Gibson from the National Tertiary Education Union also spoke. Other unions with a strong presence were the Nurses and Midwifes Union, Maritime Union of Australia, NSW Teachers Federation, and the Independent Teachers Union.
Kim Ellis from Coonabarabran spoke about her convict and settler family history and admitted she is often out rabble rousing with Suellyn.
Kim referenced a comment made by Pat Conroy, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, during an interview with Sabra Lane for ABC Radio’s AM Program. After talking about the government’s “very strong climate targets domestically” and also being “part of the international effort”. He went on to say “Australia is back at the table and being a good actor”. Politicians are rarely so truthful!
There were so many people at the rally that the organisers decided not to go to Bibblewindi in the Pilliga Forest because the roads are narrow, making it difficult to turn around, and tyre damaging rocks have been laid across the creek crossing. Instead we gathered at a truck stop on the Newell Highway for a picnic lunch and more speeches.
Retired Coonamble farmer, Don McKenzie, spoke about the 4,000 tonnes of toxic salt waste being buried in a mine hole out west and the threat to the water of the Great Artesian Basin.
Suellyn said in 2019 Coonabarabran ran out of water and had to sink eight bores into the Great Artesian Basin.
Margaret Fleck, a farmer from Mallaley, spoke about the process of coal seam gas extraction and its impact on the environment and the health risks associated with living near a gasfield. Read Margaret’s speech CSG – the Process.
Peter Humphriss, a founding member of the Remote Area Fire Team (RAFT) for the Castlereagh Zone had his message read out about the serious fire risks in The Pilliga. Read his speech The Pilliga – Big Fire Country along with notes from Alistair Donaldson, a local fire fighter.
More speeches from the various unions and then the convoy moved on to Narrabri to a rally with locals and a march to the Santos office. Nannas decided to head back to Coonabarabran, not wanting to negotiate the roos on the Newell Highway at dusk. We drove along Timor Road to the White Gum Lookout to see the Warrumbungle Mountains and the plains beyond. Then back to Coonabarabran to cheer on the Matildas.
On Sunday we drove into the Pilliga and walked the wonderful Sculptures in the Scrub circuit track, along the ridge where the sculptures are located, then down into the Dandry Gorge before a picnic lunch. Then off to another favourite Nanna place, Pilliga Pottery for tea and scones.
Some of us drove back through the Liverpool Plains, NSW’s best cropping area, which is also under threat from coal seam gas. It is hard to believe our governments can be so stupid.
