00:00 Relief for Santos, but a blow to Tiwi Islanders and environmental groups opposed to the project.
00:08 With federal court approval, the $5.7 billion Barossa gas project will proceed.
00:14 But the costly court battle has revealed uncertainty around the requirements for consulting First
00:19 Nations clans, exposing other projects to similar legal action.
00:24 The regulatory uncertainty is still there and there's scope for more challenges to be
00:29 brought against Barossa and other projects all across the country.
00:32 The last minute injunction sought by Tiwi Island's elders last year cost Santos millions
00:38 of dollars every week, raising doubts among countries that rely on Australian gas over
00:44 whether the project would be going ahead at all.
00:47 We have our longstanding trade partners like Japan, China, South Korea, Singapore, voicing
00:54 concerns in a way we've never heard them do it.
00:57 Offshore Resources Minister Madeline King has acknowledged the approvals process for
01:01 offshore projects is in need of reform and says her office is working on clarifying the
01:06 rules around consultation with local communities to remove uncertainty for the sector.
01:11 The ABC understands the vast majority of gas from Santos' Barossa project will be sold
01:17 as LNG overseas.
01:19 Australia supplies around 40% of Japan's LNG and so we're a crucial trading partner.
01:24 And as concerns grow over Australia's role in climate change, it's likely Greens groups
01:29 will continue targeting high-emitting projects.
01:32 Barossa is one of the highest carbon dioxide emitting projects, LNG projects in the world.
01:38 That is why it's in the crosshairs of environmental organisations.
01:41 One battle in a much bigger energy war.
01:44 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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