"Traditional owners have described Labor's approach to offshore gas development as a betrayal that breaches international law.
A group of First Nations people, including Josie Alec from the Australian Conservation Foundation and Raelene Cooper from Save our Songlines, have written and published a letter to Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy and Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour.
The letter calls on the federal government to listen to Indigenous voices and claims an amendment to offshore gas legislation is intended to remove their consultation rights to be heard on developments in sea country that affect cultural heritage and songlines.Flanked by Greens and independent politicians in parliament house on Tuesday, Ms Alec said First Nations people have an obligation to protect land and sea.
"Our law was given to us in the ground and it was given to us for the sustainability and the longevity of all life on earth," she said.
"That means my children and your children and all of our future children to come, with these projects going ahead ... our children and their lives are at stake here.
"These bills that are being put through are trying to silence our voices as First Nations people." "
