2025-06-13
In response to the extension of the deadline for Woodside to respond to its approval conditions, Greens spokesperson for the environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
"The Australian public and Traditional Owners have the right to see Minister Watt’s approval conditions for the North West Shelf gas plant given the significant impacts this project will have on the environment, cultural heritage and the safety of our climate.
“With Woodside given seemingly unlimited time to negotiate with the Government behind closed doors, how can we be assured the approval conditions are not being watered down by the fossil fuel giant?
“These gas corporations will do everything they can to avoid strict conditions and scrutiny. The public has a right to know what the Minister originally said was needed and why the Government would be offering any compromise to Woodside.
“Give these fossil fuel companies an inch and they will take a mile. No easy ticket or carve outs should be offered.
"It is devastating that so soon after the public elected one of the most progressive parliaments in Australia's history, the new Environment Minister's first act in the job has been approving one of the biggest, dirtiest gas projects in Australia out to 2070 - and is letting them dictate the conditions behind closed doors.
“This monstrous gas expansion will be an environmental disaster - unleashing gas pollution on a huge scale, destroying cultural heritage and threatening pristine ecosystems like Scott Reef, home to threatened endangered species like the green sea turtle and the pygmy blue whale.
"The least the Minister can do is provide the public and Traditional Owners transparency over his decision making."