Federal MP not welcome in Aussie town after ‘disrespectful’ act during ABC interview

A subtle yet arguably profound omission during an ABC interview with a Labor cabinet minister has led to locals saying she’s no longer welcome in their remote town. Resources Minister Madeleine King sparked the angry response after she doubled-down on her support of the controversial Narrabri gas project in northern NSW during the launch of Labor's Future Gas Strategy this morning.

While she argued energy giant Santos's project was "important" for Australia, she failed to mention it’s vehemently opposed by the region's Indigenous people – the Gomeroi.

While it could simply have been an oversight, Indigenous Elder Polly Cutmore claims the minister’s omission on Radio National on Thursday was not an isolated occurrence, but rather the latest in a string of snubs to her people.

"It was disrespectful," she told Yahoo News.

“I don’t think she’s got the guts to even mention us. The gas company does not have permission to enter our land. And at this stage I don’t think we’ll give permission to Madeleine King, she’s not welcome on our land at the moment." Yahoo has contacted King for comment.

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Cutmore has been outspoken in her opposition to energy giant Santos's gas project. Nationally recognised for her activism, she is one of only a handful Australians to have two portraits depicting her likeness at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

Responding to the Labor government's handling of the proposed Santos project, she said it consistently acted in a "disgusting" way to the Gomeroi people who overwhelmingly oppose Santos's plan to drill into their traditional lands across the Pilliga, south of Narrabri.

“King has not met with any of us regarding the gas," she said, claiming the government keeps promising the use of culturally significant land to resources companies without consultation.

"No party has been good for us. All they've done in 250 years have come in and destroy our country and use it as a quarry for the rest of the world, and for their own gain."

Why Labor believes more fossil fuel extraction is needed

King took time from her busy schedule celebrating Beef Week in Queensland to announce Labor's new plan, which will expand the drilling of the fossil fuel well beyond Narrabri. In a statement on Thursday, King said gas would remain an important source of energy beyond 2050, the year Labor has promised to achieve net-zero emissions.

“It is clear we will need continued exploration, investment and development in the sector to support the path to net zero for Australia and for our export partners, and to avoid a shortfall in gas supplies,” she said.

Related: Why a young dad is backing the controversial project dividing a country town

A statement released from the minister’s office made a general mention of First Nations people and said the plan would ensure they are partners in the transition to net zero. But during her ABC interview, King did not reference the impact the plan would have on Indigenous populations whose land the gas will be extracted from.

“We’re taking in submissions public from the community, environmental groups, from local councils, from unions and also from the industry. We’ve heard from a lot of people,” she said. When speaking about the Narrabri project, she suggested the project would make gas "more affordable" for consumers in NSW because the fields are close to them. "Narrabri is important," she said.

Torres Strait Islanders fear sacred sites will be destroyed by gas plan

Further north, Torres Strait Islanders are also concerned about the ramping up of fossil fuel extraction.

Speaking to Yahoo from the Common Threads Indigenous conference in Cairns, Tanena Nona said king tides are already drastically affecting their towns. “They’re coming up to our homes. All we've been given is band-aid fixes which are sea walls which don't work at all," she said.

“The tides are really eating our islands away. We don't want to be refugees seeking new homes, losing our culture, language, everything, our sacred sites. It will be a very great effect for the Torres Strait Islands, every Pacific island and the world as a whole.”

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Speaking to Yahoo from the Torres Strait Islands, Aunty McRose Elu told Yahoo she had been talking with flooding and bushfire victims elsewhere in the country, and it was important the Albanese government reduces emissions and stops projects that create global warming.

"Life is going to change. We need to get to this level of [limiting temperature rises to] 1.5 degrees," she said.

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