Weak Watt concedes to Woodside on North West Shelf conditions, allows ancient rock art and climate to be destroyed
Weak Watt concedes to Woodside on North West Shelf conditions, allows ancient rock art and climate to be destroyed | 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 Weak Watt concedes to Woodside on North West Shelf conditions, allows ancient rock art and climate to be destroyed 2025-09-30 The Australian Greens have labelled the federal government weak after revelations the Environment Minister bowed to pressure from Woodside to weaken proposed protections for rock art from Woodside’s North West Shelf project, and relied on dodgy state government documentation.
The “statement of reasons” document shows the Cook Western Australian government misrepresented the damage that the gas plant caused, and will continue to cause, the World Heritage listed Murujuga rock art. It also found that conditions imposed on Woodside by the WA Labor government were “not sufficient to prevent harm” to rock art, yet federal Labor still caved to gas industry pressure by approving the 40-year extension.
Lines attributable to Greens Leader Senator Larissa Waters: “This incredibly incriminating document shows just how weak the Labor government is in letting Woodside write their own rules at the expense of ancient rock art and the climate. “Labor has again conceded to their corporate donors letting them dictate the conditions on the approval of a carbon bomb. “Woodside should not have had any say on the conditions, but when Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill asks for them to be watered down to protect their profits, Murray Watt delivers for her.
“The statement of reasons document proves that Minister Watt knew about the risk to the World Heritage Murujuga ancient rock art, yet he approved Woodside’s 40-year extension anyway. “If our environmental laws allow the destruction of Murujuga’s irreplaceable cultural heritage and the climate, it is clear they are broken. “Passing the buck onto state governments is not working, WA Labor time and time again prove to be working on behalf of Woodside’s interests over that of Country, the community, and our climate.
“It is disgraceful that Minister Watt sided with WA Labor and Woodside over the protection of irreplaceable cultural heritage and a climate safe future. “Until we have strong federal environmental laws and a genuinely independent EPA, decisions will keep being made to protect industry and political careers, not to protect the environment or heritage." 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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