A delegation of First Nations people are expected to join a collective of artists and creative producers on Thursday to protest a controversial sponsorship deal between the Darwin festival and gas and oil company Santos. 

As Darwin Festival reveals its 2022 program, a delegation of NT Traditional Owners from Larrakia, Tiwi Islands and Beetaloo Basin impacted by Santos gas projects are launching a campaign to see Darwin Festival, the NT’s premiere arts and cultural institution, abandon promotional partnerships with fossil fuel companies, including major sponsor Santos.

The Northern Territory government has stood by its decision to approve four new Origin fracking wells in the Beetaloo Basin on Friday despite strong opposition from an activist native title group.

The approval came on the same day Tamboran Resources cut fences and moved heavy equipment onto Rallen Australia’s cattle station without consent of pastoralists.

A gas company has started exploratory work on a Northern Territory cattle property despite opposition from the station's pastoralists and some traditional owners against fracking. ABC online piece.

In the first case of its kind in the Northern Territory a gas fracking company has cut the fences of a cattle station to force its way onto the property without an agreement with its owners. ABC's PM reports

A gas company has begun works at Tanumbirini station, east of Daly Waters, despite opposition from the station's pastoralists and Traditional Owners against fracking. ABC's NT Country Hour reports.

Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation vows to consider legal and other options

On the same day Reconciliation Week begins, the new NT Fyles government has approved four new Origin fracking wells in the Beetaloo Basin. Meanwhile, Tamboran Resources has commenced bringing heavy work equipment to cut fences onto Tanumbirini cattle station, clearing land to build a road and new well dangerously close to Newcastle Creek which is protected by sacred sites legislation. Rallen has given no consent and the gas company is proposing construction of a new access track 

In an historic partnership, one of Australia’s largest landowners, Rallen Australia is uniting with Traditional Owners in opposition to fracking on its Tanumbirini cattle station after controversial gas company Tamboran Resources gave notice it intends to enter Tanumbirini today to begin preparatory activities for fracking, despite not having the pastoralists’ consent. 

ASX-listed Tamboran Resources is set to become the first Beetaloo Basin gas explorer to begin fracking activities on a Northern Territory cattle station without the consent of pastoralists and Aboriginal groups.

Tamboran won the right to access Tanumbirini Station, south of Katherine, in a lengthy tribunal battle that saw the station operator, Rallen Australia, awarded 1000-fold less compensation than it once demanded.

Traditional Owners and one of Australia’s largest landowners are joining forces to take a stand against fracking on Tanumbirini cattle station in the Northern Territory.

One of the Northern Territory’s biggest and wealthiest pastoral landholders will join traditional owners to “resist” the entry of fracking companies on to its expansive holdings in the Beetaloo Basin.

A gas exploration company may use security guards to ensure it can access a remote Northern Territory cattle station protected by pastoralists and Indigenous traditional owners. Tamboran Resources subsidiary Sweetpea also said it would take legal action to recover more than $40,000 per day from the station owner, cattle baron Rallen Australia, and any person that "aids" it if its fracking operations are delayed.

When Gudanji-Wambaya man Johnny Wilson learnt a gas well was being built about 20 kilometres from his ancestral home, he sensed a call to arms.

by Timna Jacks and Justin McManus

Commenting on the news of Chief Minister Gunner’s resignation, Traditional Owners from the Beetaloo region have called for a new direction from the NT government which embraces clean energy, not fracking, to help create jobs and secure energy security.

Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation presents at Darwin hearing of Senate Inquiry into gas exploration in the Beetaloo. Comments on Taylor's budget announcement today of $50.3M for 7 new gas projects, including Beetaloo pipeline study.