A secret report commissioned by the Morrison government but never released found Traditional Owners from the Beetaloo Basin are unlikely to make economic, social, cultural or other gains from fracking plans for the region.
The report said "conditions are currently not conducive to strong agreements being negotiated".
No official reason has been given as to why the report, commissioned by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, was never made public until forced by a Freedom Of Information application by Traditional Owners.
It states: "Almost always, Traditional Owners and native title holders are at a political, strategic, legal, financial and information disadvantage to the companies with which they are negotiating."
The report, which can now be found online, also reveals that "…even where strong agreements have been negotiated, the benefits for resident Indigenous population can still be decidedly mixed."
The report was finally released under a Freedom of Information request by the Nurrdalinji Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, which includes native title holders from the Amungee Mungee, Beetaloo, Hayfield, Kalala, Newcastle Waters - Murranji, Nutwood Downs, Shenandoah, Tandyidgee, Tanumbirini, Daly Waters Township, and Ucharonidge native title determinations.
Djingili elder, native title holder and Deputy Chairman of Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation, Samuel Janama Sandy, said that in terms of benefits and support from the fracking industry, it's "all talk, talk, talk and no action".
"Our communities are left without jobs or support to grow stronger," he said.
"We are getting a peanut, while the white man is packing up his pocket with cash. We should own land, buy businesses, but we got nothing. I live in Katherine in a housing commission flat, on a wheelchair, and haven't got a car or any of the benefits they say will come from fracking."
Mr Sandy said his people want jobs on Country, but "not jobs that involve drilling into our Country".
"We want to protect our underground water, the environment, the animals and birdlife, from fracking. If it goes ahead, everything will be changed," he said.
"We don't want fracking, at any cost. The gas should be kept in the ground. Everything will be changed if they start production pretty soon like they say. We won't be able to go out on country with our children and grandchildren. It will all be damaged".
