What: UWA Student Guild to protest against Woodside’s North West Shelf and Browse gas projects
When: 8.00-8.45am tomorrow, Wednesday, 30 July
Where: Woodside headquarters, 11 Mount Street, Perth
The University of Western Australia Student Guild Environment Department will hold a protest outside the headquarters of Woodside Energy tomorrow, Wednesday to protest the company’s fossil gas expansion plans.
The protest will be the fourth in a series of weekly protest actions held by different community groups outside Woodside’s headquarters. Woodside continues to be engaged in closed-door negotiations with the federal government – now in its ninth week - over the conditions for approval of its North West Shelf (NWS) gas export development at the Burrup Hub.
Julia Suffell, Environment Officer (Marine Science student at UWA):
“The UWA Student Guild condemns the Labor government for approving Woodside’s NWS gas project, which will have severe climate, ecological, and cultural impacts.
"Woodside has proposed over 50 gas wells to surround Scott Reef, one of the most ecologically significant marine environments in the world. The WA EPA has already found the Browse project poses unacceptable risks to over 1,000 species of marine life and could result in the extinction of green sea turtles, pygmy blue whales and dusky sea snakes, which call Scott Reef home.
“The impacts of climate change are being felt by all young people. Recently visiting the Ningaloo Reef and seeing first-hand an unprecedented level of coral bleaching due to recent severe marine heatwaves was devastating.
“It is essential young people speak up about our future and advocate for a rapid transition to renewable energy. It’s not our grandchildren who won’t be able to experience the breathtaking Ningaloo Reef - it’s us.
“The NWS conditional approval highlights the urgent need to reform the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, which currently fails to account for the impact of climate change. The Australian government will not achieve its renewable energy targets without modern, fit for purpose environmental laws.”
Sophie Burrows (Wildlife Conservation student at UWA):
“I am a student at the University of Western Australia. I am 20 years old. And I grieve for the crimes being committed against Mother Nature.
“We often say, think of our grandchildren – we want a safe future for them. That is true but we are currently experiencing a climate crisis. Now. Let’s not add fuel to this already growing fire.
“I love Western Australia. I love the biodiversity, our natural wonders, and the community I am part of. But I worry a lot about my future here – I don’t want to be living in a version of WA that is still extracting gas until 2070. I don’t want to live in a state where the government is more concerned about the relationship it has with multi-national billion-dollar corporations than with what’s best for its own people.
“The NWS extension, as well, the proposed Browse project at Scott Reef, cannot go ahead under any circumstance, as it will cause an incomprehensible level of destruction to our climate, environment and culture.
“As a young person, passionate about the place I have grown up, I say shame! Shame on Woodside’s irresponsible new projects and shame on our government’s clear support of them.
Join us Wednesday 30 July outside Woodside HQ to demonstrate that the Perth community, with a focus on youth, do not want these proposals to go ahead. Let’s protect people and the planet.”