Woodside and Albanese Gov Attempt to sneak through carbon dumping plan at Scott Reef
Woodside and Albanese Gov Attempt to sneak through carbon dumping plan at Scott Reef | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Woodside and Albanese Gov Attempt to sneak through carbon dumping plan at Scott Reef 2025-01-09 Fossil Fuel giant Woodside Energy’s plan to dump four million tons of carbon each year underneath the ocean floor at Scott Reef using a technique that has never before been attempted before in Australia, have been revealed by the Federal Environment Department.
The carbon dumping plans, also known as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), were released on January 3rd while many Australians were off work for summer holidays or at the beach and are only open for public comment for ten days. Woodside’s attempts to now use carbon dumping to try and secure approval for the high emissions Browse gas field to be developed at Scott Reef sits in stark contrast to their earlier public admissions.
In July 2022, Woodside described offshore carbon dumping at Browse as “high risk, high cost” and “unproven” in an application to the federal regulator. Documents uncovered under FOI by Greenpeace show that the federal government has already warned Woodside of numerous environmental risks from its carbon dumping plans including CO2 toxicity, risks of earthquakes, risks of leakage and marine impacts of ongoing seismic blasting.
Woodside’s plans for carbon dumping at Scott Reef would be the first time offshore CCS has ever been tried in Australia. The Greens are calling for the public consultation period, which closes Thursday January 16, to be extended and for the application to undergo a full environmental assessment. Comments attributable to Acting Greens Leader Senator Sarah Hanson Young: “This is nothing but greenwashing.
“Woodside’s blatant attempt at greenwashing their polluting projects will not stop extinctions and will not protect our oceans and climate. “Dumping carbon pollution under Scott Reef would put already endangered species like the green sea turtle, pygmy blue whale and the dusky sea snake at serious risk. This wildlife needs urgent protection, not more destruction and pollution in the places they call home.
“Woodside’s plans in Scott Reef are an environmental disaster in the making. The Prime Minister should rule out all polluting projects in this pristine ecosystem when he visits WA this week.” Comments attributable to WA Greens Fossil Fuels spokesperson and Legislative Council candidate Sophie McNeill: “Two and a half years ago, fossil fuel giant Woodside admitted that carbon dumping at Scott Reef couldn't be done due to the high cost and high risk of an environmental disaster.
“Now they are suddenly trying to ram this through in a matter of weeks during the summer holidays.” “Woodside knows the carbon intensive Browse field is so toxic to our climate they’re now hoping they can fool regulators into approving an untested technique using failed technology in order to get this disastrous project approved.” “Western Australia already hosts one of the world's biggest carbon dumping failures, Chevron's Gorgon gas export project, and the last thing our climate can afford is another sham CCS project.” “Woodside’s target is to store 52 million tonnes – equal to just 3% of the carbon pollution that would come from tapping the gas below Scott Reef - and similar projects have failed to meet even a third of their storage targets.” “The public consultation period must be extended and Woodside’s carbon dumping application requires a full environmental assessment by the federal environment department.” Comments attributable to WA Greens MLC Dr Brad Pettitt: “Scott Reef is a globally significant marine ecosystem, home to hundreds of species, including sea snakes, sharks, rays and sawfish.
It provides critical habitat to endangered pygmy blue whales and vulnerable green turtles. “The WA community have made it clear that they want this government to protect our oceans, endangered marine life and our stunning Kimberley coast from companies like Woodside.” “We simply cannot trust a company that has already had two pipeline accidents in the past year to use untested and unproven technology in such a pristine environment, home to so many endangered marine life.” “Just this week we learnt more about the consequences of a gas industry condensate spill in our WA waters, with the Santos court case exposing how easily 25,000 litres of oil leaked into the Indian Ocean.” “A similar accident at Scott Reef would create an unprecedented environmental disaster in our beautiful Kimberley region and risk jobs and livelihoods in tourism and other critical sustainable industries.” Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
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