Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory are demanding a 2018 fracking ban, saying they fear for the future of their land and culture if an existing ban is eased.
Yesterday more than 50 Traditional Owners meet outside Darwin's parliament house to call on the NT Labor Government of Michael Gunner to resist pressure from the Federal Government to lift a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing.
The group released a statement claiming gas companies lied to traditional owners about "irreversible" damage that the controversial gas extraction method would cause, after claiming there'd be "no impacts".
"We are concerned about the damage to our water, our country, our dreaming and our song lines," the statement said.
"We want to be able to fish and hunt, gather bush tucker and bush medicines now and for all generations."
"The government needs to listen to us," she said. "We are the people who would face the drilling rigs on country; it's our water and country you are putting at risk."
Scott McDinny, a Garawa man from Borroloola, believes now may be the last chance Aboriginal land owners have to let the government know their stance.
"Wet season is just around the corner and if they lift the moratorium then, we won't be able to get out of our communities to respond," he said.
Several hundred Territory residents including farmers, health workers, tourism operators, fishermen and artists held an anti-fracking rally outside parliament on Saturday.
Additional reporting AAP.
