Santos has been prevented from starting work on a 262-kilometre pipeline to its $5.8 billion Barossa gas project in the Timor Sea after the Federal Court agreed to suspend the project until it can consider an argument from Tiwi Islanders that its cultural impact has not been properly assessed.

The Federal Court on Thursday granted the interim injunction, preventing “any activity” on the export pipeline. It will remain in place until November 13, when the court will decide whether to grant a full injunction.