Good morning,
The following statement is from Murujuga traditional custodian, Mardudhunera woman and recent Federal Court victor, Raelene Cooper, responding to comments yesterday from Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and WA Premier Roger Cook and the news late yesterday of a major incident affecting the Scarborough gas pipeline off the coast of Murujuga:
“Our opponents are trying to take away the only safety net that we have. Mr Dutton has not justified any of his comments yesterday. The federal government has already tried to break us down with the Voice referendum. The WA government has then ripped the heart out of our Aboriginal Heritage Act.
"And now they are all repeatedly hammering the only safety net that we have left. The legislative protections, the NOPSEMA regulations, the legal defences we mount - this is just information sharing and it must be preserved and protected, because it is also how we share our stories with the world.
“I am really scared. I am really scared for the animals, for our environment and for our sacred songlines. This is the unknown. When incidents happen, like the Scarborough pipeline disaster yesterday, it is traumatic, it is tragic and it is terrifying. Man, industry, governments, decision makers are making terrible decisions to allow these companies and these projects to go ahead without knowing the unknowns.
"If that incident has occurred today, what happens when a fully pressurised gas pipeline breaks in our precious ocean? Humans, animals - where do we fit into this chaos that is being unleashed? How is it that these companies and these governments allow this poisonous, dangerous, destructive behaviour to continue?”
Ms Cooper's 'Statement from the heart' regarding her Federal Court defeat of Woodside in September and regulatory decisions and consultation for gas projects is attached.
Ms Cooper can be contacted today for further comment on 0474 480 810
A Google Drive with all Save our Songlines media content including photos, audio and new footage of industrial destruction on Murujuga is available here.