Australian Conservation Society to Challenge Approval of Gas Project Extension in Federal Court

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) is challenging a decision by Minister for the Environment, the Hon. Murray Watt, to approve an extension of the North West Shelf Project until 2070. The North West Shelf Project is run by Woodside Energy, and this decision has raised alarm bells for the environment and climate change.

On Monday, General Counsel for the ACF, Adam Beeson, attended a press conference to announce that the organisation was undertaking legal proceedings in the Federal Court. The ACF is arguing that the Minister wrongly considered the economic benefits of the unapproved Browse gas project, the approval left out critical details, and that the Minister failed to consider the effects of climate change as an impact.

Minister for the Environment, Murray Watt, has said that his decision was made in accordance with the law. “The conditions I set, along with those set by the WA Government, were designed to prevent significant damage to the rock art which is the test required under the EPBC Act.” He declined to further comment on the matter, owing to the legal proceedings.

Image supplied: the Australian Conservation Foundation