The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) has marked Environment Minister Murray Watts’ final approval of the North West Shelf (NWS) export gas plant extension ‘a climate fail’, calling the decision both dangerous and deficient. 

CCWA Executive Director Matt Roberts said that after 15 weeks of ‘consultation’ - over the conditions of approval - well beyond the initial 10-day deadline Woodside was given to respond – this approval will green-light billions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from the plant over the next 45 years. 

“The conditions imposed on the NWS approval seem to be set to appease Woodside shareholders at the expense of climate, nature and culture – there are no conditions which would make this an acceptable decision,” Mr Roberts said. 

“The Minister has placed ‘48 strict conditions’ on approval, including reducing emission levels. The question we ask, is who will be monitoring and reporting on these numbers?  

“We’ve seen a lack of accountability and will to enforce any real penalties on fossil fuel companies who breach their obligations both currently and in the past. Often these breaches have relied on self-reporting and come to light long after they’ve occurred. 

“If Woodside plans to use the Safeguard Mechanism as a way of offsetting its emissions, this will not result in any real reduction targets being met.  

“The extension of the dirtiest and most polluting fossil fuel hub in the Australia at a time when we need a plan to exit gas, is an intergenerational failure. The science around no new oil and gas is unequivocal.  

“This project will see six billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions released out to 2070. People born today will be in their mid-40s by the time this expansion is due to be wound down. 

“That’s not a transition period, it’s more than half a lifetime.  

“Approval of this project by Minister Watt is a stark reminder that our environmental laws are broken. And the Safeguard Mechanism doesn’t deter fossil fuels. 

“The NWS decision comes ahead of Australia declaring it’s 2035 emissions reduction target.  Experts warn anything less than 75% would lead to temperature increases above 2 degrees1, leading to catastrophic consequences for everyone. These are two of the biggest climate decisions Australia will make in our lifetime. 

“Australia is the second largest exporter of LNG in the world, with most of our exports coming from Western Australia. While our politicians might want to claim Australia is insignificant when it comes to global emissions, this gas will impact our climate here at home – even if it’s burned overseas. The Prime Minister has a responsibility to take meaningful action now and show real leadership. 

“We just can’t keep making the same decisions, approving new fossil fuel projects and expect a different outcome. Every year we delay action on climate, every fossil fuel project approved or extended adds billions of dollars in costs to Australians through recovery costs from floods, fires, drought. 

“Woodside and the Federal Government have been engaged in opaque back-room negotiations on final conditions for approval of the NWS extension, demonstrating an abject failure of our national environmental laws. 

“No matter how you dress it up by hiding emissions through offsets under the government’s Safeguard Mechanism scheme, or claiming that failed Carbon Capture and Storage technology – carbon dumping – will reduce pollution, it’s still a dangerous fantasy that will have consequences,” Mr Roberts said. 

“The Safeguard Mechanism allows polluters to buy a resolution through a broken carbon offset system, and we’re seeing an increasing number of false claims about failed carbon capture and storage technology as the planet’s saviour. This is why we need a climate trigger in our federal nature laws. 

“Back on 9 June, CCWA sent an open letter with 85 signatories to the Minister for the Environment calling for public consultation on the conditions of approval under s131A of the Enviornmental Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBC). 

“Sadly, the Minister never responded to the letter or engaged with environment groups on the terms of his conditions, despite this prolonged process of negotiation with Woodside. Why was Woodside afforded an endless grace period while all public consultation and engagement was shut out?    

“It seems that when it comes to following due process – and providing clarity on what that looks like - both the State and Federal Governments have set their rules in favour of delivering an outcome acceptable to Woodside. 

“It would appear the tail has been well and truly wagging the dog.” 

“We will now be seeking to clarify the details of the conditional approval in line with provisions under s131A of the EPBC.  

“The 45-year extension of the NWS has nothing to do with securing WA’s energy future and economic prosperity; this facility will take more gas out of WA’s domestic market than it will put back in. This is all about securing the future of Woodside’s lucrative gas export operations. 

“Woodside plans to export gas to Japan through the NWS — but this approval isn’t about decarbonising Asia; we know that Japan is actually on-selling Australian gas to make a profit.  

“Despite Premier Cook’s insistence on just how lucrative the NWS plant is for WA, recent state budget papers show the shared revenue the project is generating for WA is in rapid decline. 

“Royalties from the NWS plant are expected to drop by more than 70% in the 2025-26 financial year to $365 million, which equates to just 0.7% of the state’s $50.2 billion total revenue. 

“This is a terrible decision — but it’s not over yet. After months of pushback from Woodside on conditions to reduce pollution from the NWS, it's clear Woodside doesn't care about our environment or our climate.  

“Woodside has a terrible track record when it comes to our environment and climate. It spilled thousands of litres of oil off Ningaloo and had its decommissioning program stopped by the offshore regulator due to safety incidents.  

“Woodside doesn't care about Australians, our climate, environment or the economy, and this approval isn't the end. Woodside still wants to go after the gas in the Browse basin which sits underneath Scott Reef.  

“Minister Watt has got it wrong on the NWS. Now we will turn our attention to the proposed drilling under Scott Reef – a very real possibility thanks to this approval. Hopefully Minister Watt has the courage to reject that proposal and save Scott Reef. 

“Australia is not on track to meet our Paris targets and WA’s emissions continue to rise. We are sleepwalking into climate disaster.”