Sydney Nannas stomped on Santos during their AGM – see the video; Gomeroi People vs Santos and the State of NSW go back to the National Native Title Tribunal; Nannas visit a wood recycling place in Marrickville; must see koala video about NSW’s carbon credit scheme.
Santos AGM Stomp
A group of Sydney Nannas and Friends gathered outside Santos’ Sydney office during the morning of their AGM in Adelaide. It was a fun event.
Media students from UTS filmed the event so the Nannas, who love to perform, put on a show. (Their film is not ready yet.) Short speeches were made about the following.
- Santos faces strong opposition from Traditional Owners and activists for its Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga in NSW and for its Barossa offshore gas joint venture north of Darwin in the Timor Sea.
- Global LNG export capacity has surged from the United States and Qatar
- Gas sales and prices have fallen, after a relatively mild Northern Hemisphere winter.
- Santos has recently been accused of misleading advertising over domestic gas use claims
- NSW used gas for only 2% of its electricity generation in 2023, and gas use is rapidly declining.
- Last year $11.1 billion was given as subsidies to fossil fuel companies.
- The federal government collects more money from HECS (payments for higher education) than it does from the petroleum resource rent tax, a special levy designed to ensure Australians benefit from the extraction of our gas and oil.
Nannas had banners, signs and even a flying pig to demonstrate these points. They read statements from Gomeroi woman Suellyn Tighe and Liverpool Plains landholder Margaret Fleck – both calling on Santos to give up on the Narrabri Gas Project and leave them in peace.
Patrick played anti-gas songs and the Nannas joined in the songs and the chants with the help of MC Nanna Bernie. Nancy Sinatra’s ”These Boots are Made for Walking” was given different words as Nanna boots stomped over the Santos sign on the pavement. This was very cathartic for the many Nannas who have been campaigning against coal seam gas and the Narrabri Gas Project for over 10 years.
Meanwhile inside the Adelaide AGM shareholder activists weren’t able to persuade the majority of shareholders that Santos should change its strategic direction, despite research by the independent Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis finding they could get a bigger bang for their buck from an “end-game strategy” and not more gas.
Gomeroi People vs Santos and the State of NSW
The Gomeroi people appealed a decision by the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) to allow Santos to go ahead with the Pilliga Narrabri Gas Project without their consent.
In some good news on 12 April 2024 the federal court ordered the case be sent back to the National Native Title Tribunal for a decision on climate grounds only.
The Gomeroi applicant has proposed that the parties be able to adduce further evidence. The evidence coming from climate science has changed significantly since the closing date for evidence to the first hearing in October 2021. Locally a wildfire went through part of the Pilliga late last year, so there are strong grounds for new evidence to be heard.
Santos and the State of NSW both want to limit the evidence to that which was before the Tribunal on the last occasion. Nannas are gobsmacked that the Minns government appears to be actively supporting Santos against the wishes of the Gomeroi people.
The federal court order allows the Tribunal to decide if it is appropriate to permit further evidence.
A few Nannas visited wood re-using businesses Among the Trees and Wastewood last week. It’s a great place to buy recycled wood in Marrickville. Reclaiming wood is a satisfying business, but not an easy way to make a buck. But they’re only 5 years old and there’s scope to grow. Joe showed us around all the sections and gave us plenty of time. His jaw dropped when Jocelyn mentioned that the NSW hardwood industry is being propped up by taxpayers to the tune of $20m+ pa.
Koalas
The NSW Government’s carbon credits scheme, how the forestry industry intends to keep logging to collect carbon credits, and the scam of offsets permitting the expansion of fossil fuels. The following is a must see video report from the Australia Institute’s Walkley Award-Winning Senior Fellow, Stephen Long.
Stephen Long on Late Night Live with Phillip Adams
Nanna submission underway for the Review of the Koala Strategy due 26 April
This week five Sydney Nannas will go on a Native Forest Listening Tour to Coffs Harbour and nearby native forests.
Nannas are Watching
Seize the Decade: How to Cut Climate Pollution by 75% by 2030
Climate Council webinar attended by 900 people. If you weren’t able to make it on the night, you can watch a recording of the webinar on the Seize the Decade website. On the site, you can also download the Seize the Decade report, and watch the heart-warming Seize the Decade video shared during the event.
Mamirnikuwi – a moving backstory from the Tiwi Islands
Antonia Burke used to work for Santos, then she got the call from the old people and went home to her country on the Tiwi Islands. This short video is full of powerful stories. ABC video
Gas giant Empire Energy is using $28.7 million in public money to frack the NT. Empire Energy is a gas company under investigation for wrongfully using $28.7 million in public money for fracking. They received the money through the federally funded ‘Research and Development’ scheme – but gas exploration and drilling are meant to be prohibited. Facebook video
Move Beyond Coal’s 35 Minutes documentary Walanbaa-ngiiyani View the trailer
Forthcoming Events: