‘Sea-country’ alliance could push traditional owners closer to mining industry, critics say

Tiwi elder Dennis Murphy Tipakalippa’s lawyers argued Santos was required to consult traditional owners because of their spiritual connection to land and sea. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

An alliance formed by traditional owners to fight for their “sea-country” rights after court wins against Santos’s $5bn Barossa offshore gas project is set to sideline environmental groups, critics say.

More than 100 First Nations people met in Darwin for a two-day summit this week so traditional owner groups with responsibility for sea-country – particularly country that intersects with proposed offshore oil and gas projects – could discuss their rights and responsibilities “in the face of increased offshore energy proposals”.