Activist groups not directly involved in Tiwi Island lawsuit must hand over documents to Santos, court rules

Santos is pursuing the Environmental Defenders Office for costs and may also seek a non-party costs order against three other groups after it won a lawsuit carried out by the EDO on behalf of Tiwi Island traditional owners. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters

A federal court judge has allowed Santos to subpoena paperwork held by three activist groups who were not directly involved in a lawsuit against the oil company.

Justice Natalie Charlesworth ruled on Wednesday afternoon that Santos could pursue financial records and communications between activist groups – Sunrise, Jubilee Australia and the NT Environment Centre – and the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) in order to determine whether the company will also pursue the campaign organisations for costs for the lawsuit carried out by the EDO on behalf of Tiwi Island traditional owners.