TRADITIONAL OWNERS MAKE HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLAINTS AGAINST BANKS OVER GAS PROJECT FUNDING

Traditional Owners have filed human rights grievances against Santos. Credit: Market Forces.

Traditional Owners from the Northern Territory have filed human rights grievances against 15 major banks over loans given to a major gas project.

The $3.6 billion Santos Barossa Gas project proposed near the Tiwi Islands would see a pipeline installed through sea country.

Traditional Owners had a major win last year when the Federal Court found Santos and the federal government regulator failed to ensure Traditional Owners were properly consulted.

Now, six Tiwi Islander Traditional Owners and one Larrakia Traditional Owner have filed human rights grievances against Australian and international banks, calling on them to withdraw from funding the project.

UN Member of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Dr Hannah McGlade said the UN Guiding Principles on businesses and human rights apply to banking institutions, which have a duty to ensure significant projects they fund don’t infringe upon Indigenous people's human rights.

“The Australian Government should be ensuring that businesses are respecting human rights, and this may require legislation and enforcement measures, including the active participation of Indigenous Peoples in those responses,” she said.

“Indigenous peoples, particularly of the Pacific Region, are being very badly impacted by climate change.”