Judge Questions Quality of Evidence in Indigenous Legal Challenge Against Pipeline

The judge dismissed the evidence presented by environmentalists, anthropologists, and Indigenous claimants saying it was ‘lacking in integrity.’

Protesters gather at the front of the Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne, Australia on Nov. 15, 2022. This case involves Santos Ltd., and the major Barossa Gas project, located near the Tiwi Islands off the northern coast of Australia. Tamati Smith/Getty Images

The Federal Court of Australia has dismissed an Indigenous challenge against a major gas pipeline to the Timor Sea with Justice Natalie Charlesworth criticising the quality of evidence presented by witnesses and environmentalists.

Justice Charlesworth said the evidence presented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) involved “confection” and the coaching of Indigenous witnesses.