The government helped establish the Lake Eyre Basin Traditional Owners Alliance, made up of more than a dozen local traditional owner groups, which former Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch promised to consult.

"We are going to work in partnership with First Nations peoples and support their establishment of the Lake Eyre Basin Traditional Owner Alliance, which will have an active role in the decision-making and management of that area," Ms Enoch said in a media release in December 2019.

Mithaka man George Gorringe is a traditional landowner in the area and is a founding member of the Alliance.

At the group's first meeting, which happened on Tuesday, December 14, Mr Gorringe said there was no mention of the petroleum leases being granted.

He only found out later that day.

"I got a phone call to say that this is what happened, and that is the first I'd heard about it," Mr Gorringe said.

"It was very disappointing to hear this, and also that there hasn't been any consultation."

The department said, "the registered native title claim group was notified and consented to the grant of the petroleum leases prior to the approval of the petroleum leases."

Origin Energy also said it had "been in contact with native title groups about meeting for some time and have participated in an introductory meeting with one group in recent weeks."

The National Native Title Tribunal shows there is currently no registered native title claim over the 11 Origin Energy petroleum leases.