Santos has scored a legal victory in the battle over its $5.8bn Barossa pipeline. But how significant is it?

Court ruling is challenging for the Tiwi Islanders who fought case and likely to prompt a re-think about how Indigenous cultural heritage matters are run

• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Australia's environment movement and fossil fuel interests are weighing the significance of a sharp judicial slapdown delivered in the federal court.

In a judgment on Monday, Justice Natalie Charlesworth rejected claims that a pipeline necessary for a $5.8bn gas development north of Darwin posed a major risk to the cultural heritage of Indigenous people who have lived in the area for tens of thousands of years.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup