Premier Roger Cook’s Visit Sparks community protest in Broome

Image credit supplied: Broome Community Protest, Broome Western Australia, 2025.

On January 13, 2025, Djukun Traditional Owners and members of the Broome community gathered outside the Broome office of Divina D'Anna MLA to protest and voice their opposition to fracking and the industrialisation of the Kimberley region. The community protest called for the fracking ban due to the proposal by Texan fossil fuel company Black Mountain, to drill and frack 20 oil and gas wells in the Martuwarra Fitzroy River catchment.

The peaceful gathering coincided with but unrelated to the Western Australian Premier Roger Cook's visit to the area ahead of the upcoming state election.

Djukun Nation stood in solidarity with Environs Kimberley and Broome community members at the protest which was aimed to pressure the WA Government to ban fracking in the Kimberley and prioritise the preservation of the region's pristine environment and cultural heritage.

Djukun Traditional Owners Speak Out

Djukun Elder Mary Ozies expressed grave concerns about the proposed fracking plans, stating:
"We need to ban fracking in the Kimberley because water is our main resource. It’s very important to our culture, and it’s very important to every human on Earth. It’s a God-given commodity".

Yisah Bin Omar, a Djukun woman, echoed this sentiment:
"We say no to fracking. Keep our water clean. Water is life".

The government’s plans to open the Kimberley to oil and gas industries have alarmed Traditional Owners and local residents, who fear the irreversible environmental damage fracking could cause.

Environs Kimberley Executive Director Martin Pritchard stated "There's a simple answer to the whole question of the destructive industrialisation of the Kimberley through oil and gas fracking and that's a ban on the industry like there is in the Southwest of the state”.

The Kimberley: A Unique and Precious Region

The Kimberley region is world renowned and one of the last great wildernesses on Earth. The Kimberley has unique ecosystems, is so rich biodiversity, and holds deep cultural significance for its Traditional Owners. Fracking stands as a major threat to the region’s fragile environment, including its underground water supplies, which are vital for both human survival and the delicate ecosystems that thrive in the area.

How You Can Help

The Djukun Nation and concerned Kimberley residents urge everyone to take action by sending a message asking Premier Cook to ban fracking in the Kimberley: www.environskimberley.org.au/ban_fracking.
By standing together, we can send a clear message to the Western Australian government to protect this irreplaceable region.

Visit the Environs Kimberley website to learn more about how you can support the movement to safeguard the Kimberley from industrial exploitation.

Together, we can ensure a sustainable and frack-free future for the Kimberley and its people.

Video Credit: Jaala Ozies. Djukun Elder Mary Ozies and Djukun woman Yisah Bin Omar, Broome Western Australia 2025.

- ENDS -