$30 billion gas project in limbo, as climate activists intervene to raise funds for legal fight

A decision on whether to grant an extension to the North West Shelf project could be deferred for a third time, officials have conceded, after it was revealed on Thursday that last-minute interventions by activists were to blame for the latest delay. Labor was accused on Wednesday of “betraying” WA after a ruling on the $30 billion Woodside project was pushed back until after the Federal election. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s department blamed a hold-up in paperwork for pushing the deadline back for a second time. It has since emerged that “reconsideration” requests were filed by environmental lobbyists Greenpeace on 19 March and by the Conservation Council of WA on 12 February. The reconsideration requests argue that the decision on the 50-year extension of the North-West Shelf must also consider the larger proposed Browse project, which would use North West Shelf infrastructure, and its potential impact on Scott Reef. “Without the North West Shelf, there is no Browse gas project,” CCWA Acting Executive Director Mia Pepper said. “The North West Shelf extension needs to be assessed for what it is: the centrepiece of Woodside’s Burrup Hub, opening up widespread industrialisation of WA’s oceans and iconic Pilbara and Kimberley landscapes.” A senior Labor source told The West Australian that while they believed the delay was necessary — to withstand a likely legal challenge — they accused environmental activists of deliberately stirring up the debate on the eve of a Federal election. “They use it to get donations in Victoria,” they said. On Thursday, Federal bureaucrats were grilled over this week’s call to push the decision back until May 31 and even admitted that they still may not have enough time. “We got the data quite late,” Head of Environment Approvals Bruce Edwards said during a senate estimates hearing. “Now, in a process of having understood some of that data and seeing how complex it is, I’m trying to reconcile that with the Act’s requirements. “We need to ensure that the decision is legally sound, so we will look at the advice we get and then determine how we could get to the end point. “At this time, the 31st of May is sort of an adequate time, we believed.” Labor was accused of announcing the delay “under the cover” of Budget day amid concerns a minority Labor Government, as predicted by opinion polls, may have to negotiate with an emboldened cross-bench. “This is not the behaviour of a pro-jobs Government that wants to responsibly balance the environment with sustainable economic projects,” Shadow Environment Minister Jonno Duniam said. “It is one of a government that is ideologically opposed to gas and, cynically, does not want to lose inner-city votes to the Greens.” But the Government has defended the process, insisting caution is needed to ensure the final decision is safeguarded from claims of apprehended bias, with environmental lawyers circling. “Pre-judging projects is against the law and risks delaying projects even further,” Resources Minister Madeleine King said on Wednesday. On Thursday, she was spruiking the Government’s domestic gas security mechanism, after meeting with east coast exporters amid a new push for a WA-style gas reservation policy to safeguard local supplies. “Australian consumers and businesses deserve to be able to buy Australian gas at reasonable prices, and we’re making sure they can, Ms King said. “Peter Dutton voted against price caps on gas.” WA’s gas reservation policy, introduced by the Carpenter Government in 2006, requires offshore producers, including Woodside and Chevron, to dedicate 15 per cent of their production for the domestic market. Industry groups have warned that green tape is threatening Australia’s international reputation with investors and long-term energy security. “The further delay in approval of ongoing operations of the North West Shelf beyond 2030 is extremely disappointing,” a Woodside spokesman said. “We look forward to certainty for ongoing operations.” But a Department source described the request for a 50-year extension of the North-West Shelf project, until 2070, as a big ask.

$30 billion gas project in limbo, as climate activists intervene to raise funds for legal fight

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