"You've got to come back to the real world, the real world how it is lived. Water gives life to every plant and animal, and us. Not money. When you hold money in your hand you're holding a dead environment and a dead land[.]"

– Gadrian Hoosan (Garrwa, Yanyuwa)

In the wake of the Greenslide of the federal election, Documentary Meets returns this month with a timely screening of INFRACTIONS (2019), a film directed by settler artist Rachel O’Reilly in dialogue with Indigenous activists and cultural workers on the frontline of the campaign against the government-sponsored fracking initiatives that are threatening more than 51% of the Northern Territory. What will it now take to arrest this planned carbon bomb and abort the controversial ‘gas-led recovery’?

Initially presented as a feature-length video installation, INFRACTIONS connects this Indigenous-led resistance to mining companies in the NT’s Beetaloo Basin, to US industry origin stories, before returning to Gladstone, where onshore gas fracking was first approved for export in Australia on unceded Gooreng Gooreng country (also O'Reilly's hometown). The final work of O’Reilly’s creative research project The Gas Imaginary (2013-21), the documentary uses an experimental splitscreen form to illustrate how Australia, a frontrunner in the export of fossil fuels, pressures regional communities in reckless pursuit of economic interests, undermines Aboriginal land rights, the cultural significance of key sites, and the ecological well-being of important food bowls and ancient waterways.

INFRACTIONS features musician/community leader Dimakarri ‘Ray’ Dixon (Mudburra); two-time Telstra Award finalist Jack Green, also winner of the the 2015 Peter Rawlinson Conservation Award (Garawa, Gudanji); musician/community leader Gadrian Hoosan (Garrwa, Yanyuwa); ranger Robert O’Keefe (Wambaya), educators Juliri Ingra and Neola Savage (Gooreng Gooreng); Ntaria community worker and law student Que Kenny (Western Arrarnta); musician Cassie Williams (Western Arrarnta); the Sandridge Band from Borroloola; and Professor Irene Watson (Tanganekald, Meintangk Bunganditj) contributor to the draft UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 1990-1994.

Join us at Composite on the evening of Thursday, May 26th to consider and celebrate big ‘FRACK OFF’ energy.

With a post-screening update from Hannah Ekin of the Arid Lands Environment Centre.

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Time: Doors and drinks start from 7; introduction and screening from 7.30.
Prices: $10 waged / $5 unwaged / free (no one turned away for lack of funds). Seating allocations will be on a ‘first-come, first-served' basis and capacity is limited.

Accessibility Requirements

All screenings in this program are captioned however if you have any other accessibility requirements please let us know.

Wheelchair Accessibility

Composite is wheelchair accessible via the main carriageway ramp from Johnston Street as well as elevator access to the UG floor via the 'art deco' entrance midway down the Johnston Street facade and also via the rear entrance beside the Keith Haring mural, which has a ramp and leads to the elevator.

Gender Neutral Bathrooms

Composite has all gender-neutral bathrooms.

Accessible Parking/Dropoff Areas

If you are coming by car, there is accessible drop-off and pick up space at the side of the building beside the Keith Haring mural. There are also accessible parking located in the carpark at the rear of our venue.

Public Transport

Composite at Collingwood Yards is close to Stop 19 at the corner of Smith Street/Johnston Street on the 86 tram line. Only some Trams on this route are serviced by a mix of low floor and high floor trams. Read more at the PTV site here. The number 200 and 207 Bus' also stop directly over the road from Collingwood Yards.

Guide Dogs/Service Dogs

Guide dogs and service dogs are welcome at Composite.