Conservation Groups Challenge Woodside’s North West Shelf Gas Extension in Federal Court

The Albanese government’s approval of one of the world’s largest gas projects in Western Australia is now being contested in federal court, raising a crucial question about how Australia’s environmental laws address climate‑change risks.

This week, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and Friends of Australian Rock Art (Fara) have filed concurrent litigation to block the extension of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas export project.

Environment Minister Murray Watt’s endorsement of the project last year drew sharp criticism from conservationists and the Greens.

The approval will allow Woodside’s Karratha gas‑processing plant to operate until 2070; ACF has labeled it a “carbon bomb,” estimating that it will release approximately 4 billion tonnes of CO₂ — the equivalent of ten years of Australia’s current emissions.

The plant sits adjacent to the Murujuga Indigenous rock‑art complex, a landscape that houses more than a million petroglyphs aged over 50,000 years, including the oldest known human‑face image.

In a landmark development, a United Nations special rapporteur was granted the opportunity to intervene in the case, allowing the court to be advised on Australia’s international climate commitments.

Representatives of Fara, ACF, and their supporters gathered outside the Melbourne courthouse on Tuesday before the proceeding before Justice Catherine Button.

Adam Bandt, the CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation, said: “The court will determine the merits of the case… We are saying the minister made the wrong decision, and that significant factors—particularly those linked to climate change—must be considered.”

ACF will argue that the minister ignored how emissions from the gas plant could constitute a “substantial cause” of environmental damage across Australia.

The group will also contend that the minister lacked sufficient detail on the gas to be processed, especially since the plant would handle third‑party gas from projects that have not yet received approval, thereby undermining the basis of the decision.

Additionally, ACF will challenge the minister’s assessment of the alleged economic benefits of the plant, a point that Fara echoes.

Critics, including Fara, contend that the plant’s industrial emissions are already eroding the petroglyphs; the project’s extension would accelerate that damage.

While government‑backed monitoring of the rock art has largely dismissed these concerns, some scientists remain unconvinced.

Fara is also seeking the records of meetings between Watt and Woodside that occurred during the minister’s negotiations of approval conditions.риг

Fara will argue that the minister did not adequately identify the risks posed to the rock art by the project.

Founded twenty years ago, Fara helped secure the area’s national heritage listing in 2007, triggering the requirement to evaluate the project under federal environmental law.

The United Nations special rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, Astrid Puentes Rí­año, has been granted leave to act as a “friend of the court” during the hearings, submitting written statements that outline Australia’s environmental obligations under international law kona.

The intervention follows the International Court of Justice’s landmark advisory opinion last year, obliging countries to prevent harm to the climate system and potentially requiring reparations for failure to do so.

“Under customary international law, Australia bears a duty to prevent significant harm to the environment,” Puentes’ submission states. “The ICJ Advisory Opinion confirmed that this duty extends to the climate system.”

A Woodside spokesperson said: “The Australian Federal Government’s September 2025 approval of the North West Shelf Project Extension followed a comprehensive and extended assessment carried out by both Commonwealth and Western Australian State regulators in accordance with statutory processes.”

“As proceedings are before the court, we have no further comment,” the spokesperson added.

Guardian Australia has requested a response from Watt.

The case is set to continue through the week, with an additional day scheduled for next Monday.

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