NT Traditional owners are travelling thousands of kilometres this week to bring a clear message to Sydney - Origin doesn’t have consent to frack their land and open the largest new oil and gas reserve in Australia.
The Power of Country tour will launch at Sydney Town Hall on Thursday (September 5) night - bringing together Traditional Owners, First Nations people, Northern Territory communities, and allies, all fighting Origin’s plans to frack the Betaloo Basin.
The visit comes after Origin Energy kicked out Traditional Owners who attempted to attend the company’s fancy fracking meeting for businesses in Tennant Creek in July.
The Traditional Owners had attempted to present a letter with more than 200 signatures in opposition to fracking, however Origin representatives refused to meet with them.
Stuart Nuggett is a Jingili man whose country is directly covered by approved fracking exploration licences held by Origin:
“Our communities haven’t been given enough information about what Origin is planning for our region. We are worried about the risks fracking brings. I have concerns over what the impact could be on water. Water is life. I want the company to listen to our concerns and act on them.”
Bradley Farrar is an Alawa man whose country is currently being drilled by gas giant Santos:
“I’ve come to represent my people - and talk for my people and my land, and share knowledge with other countryman, brothers and sisters, so we can fight together for one force : to stop fracking, oil and mining from destroying our land.”
First Nations Justice Lead Campaigner Larissa Baldwin said Origin is desperately trying to squash the voices of those speaking out:
“Traditional Owners should have the final say about what happens to their land. That’s why they are leading this fight and bringing it across the country.”
Standing together to fight for their country, and communities downstream. Together, they are the Power of Country.
WHERE: Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, Sydney
WHEN: Thursday 5 September from 6pm
Power of Country is a movement of Traditional Owners, First Nations people, Northern Territory communities and allies Lock the Gate, Seed Mob, AYCC, Original Power and GetUp.