Antonia Burke linked to UWA academic Michael O’Leary to stop the Barossa pipeline

An NT environmental activist has been linked with a University of WA academic in a bid to stop the Barossa gas field. Read their texts.

NT anti-development activist Antonia Burke has been linked to a University of WA academic in a court bid to stop Santos’ Barossa gas development.

Federal Court documents obtained by The Australian detail interactions between Ms Burke and University of Western Australia academic Michael O’Leary on how to use Aboriginal totems the mother serpent (Ampiji) and crocodile man (Jirakupai) as part of a case to stop a pipeline from the Barossa field being constructed 7km from the Melville Island coast.

Federal Court judge Natalie Charlesworth is expected to finalise the drawn-out legal drama next week, more than two years after the court revoked Santos’ environmental plan due to its failure to properly consult with traditional owners.

But legal action persisted even after Santos had re-consulted and in October 2023 activists including the Environmental Defenders’ Office tried to stop the project using the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984.

Antonia Burke at Darwin Supreme Court. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

In January Justice Charlesworth threw out the environmental and cultural appeals against the $6bn Barossa project, in the process delivering a huge blow to the Environmental Defenders Office and the greens campaign against the Barossa project.

Santos is seeking legal costs believed to be about $10m from the EDO.

Referencing Dr O’Leary in her January judgment, Justice Charlesworth said: “But he did lie to the Tiwi Islanders, and I find that he did so because he wanted his ‘cultural mapping’ exercise to be used in a way that would stop the pipeline. It is conduct far flung from proper scientific method, and falls short of an expert’s obligation to this court.”

On Wednesday, The Australian published details from an affidavit and exhibits that appeared to show Dr O’Leary and Ms Burke collaborating to devise a “sea country map” identifying possible sacred sites that Ampiji and Jirakupai inhabited before being sighted by Tiwi Islanders.

At one point Ms Burke told Dr O’Leary he needed to draw his Ampiji to “look more like the actual serpent” and sent through suggested images.

On July 9, 2023 Dr O’Leary told Ms Burke he was open to moving the mother serpent’s home.

UWA Marine geoscientist Dr Mick O'Leary. Picture: Supplied

“Maybe I am being too scientific about this and I should just move the location of Ampiji to the areas of the lake,” he wrote in an email.

“Ultimately, I am just a white fella and the location of the resting place/home of the Mother Ampiji will be made by the Tiwi Elders and happy to move where it seems most culturally appropriate.”

The Australian also reported Ms Burke told Dr O’Leary she was drafting a private members bill with Greens senator Dorinda Cox calling for protection of the Spirit of Sea Country.

Ms Burke’s solicitor Stewart O’Connell could not be reached for comment but he told the Australian his client was engaged as a consultant with Tiwi traditional owners, which was standard industry practice.

UWA declined to comment.

Australian Energy Producers chief executive Samantha McCulloch, however, said it was now beyond any doubt the EDO was more interested in engaging in activism than genuinely representing the interests of traditional owners.

“At a time when Australia urgently needs new gas supply, it is not in the public interest for these activist lawyers to be undermining our economic and energy security, and damaging Australia’s attractiveness as a place to do business and to invest,” Ms McCulloch said

Coalition Senator Susan McDonald has called for the federal government to stop the $8.5m EDO funding.

Originally published as Antonia Burke linked to UWA academic Michael O’Leary to stop the Barossa pipeline