Major Climate Change Challenge Begins In Federal Court

The Australian Conservation Foundation’s challenge to Environment Minister Murray Watt’s decision to approve Woodside’s NW Shelf gas hub out to 2070 and not assess harm caused by the project’s climate pollution begins today in the Federal Court.

ACF will argue the Environment Minister’s failure to assess the impact climate pollution from the gas hub will have on nature was unlawful.

“From Ningaloo to the Barrier Reef, the Albanese government’s approval of Woodside’s climate bomb puts our future and Australia’s special places at risk,” said ACF CEO Adam Bandt.

“The North West Shelf extension is one of the most controversial fossil fuel approvals in Australian history and will cause massive nature, climate and cultural damage.

“At one end of Woodside’s planned pipeline is the North West Shelf facility at Murujuga and at the other end is the proposed Browse gas drilling at Scott Reef, two places with incredible environmental values that are in the firing line from big gas exporters.”

Environmental Justice Australia Co-CEO Elizabeth McKinnon said:

“In this important legal challenge, our client will argue that the climate consequences from the North West Shelf extension – which could generate around four billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime – were not lawfully assessed before the project was approved to operate until 2070.

“Major decisions like this must be made transparently and in accordance with the law. Our client is asking the Court to determine whether Australia’s environment laws were followed and to order a correction of this error if they were not.

“The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to a Healthy, Safe and Sustainable Environment has been granted leave to appear as Amicus Curiae – a friend of the court – in this case. This intervention reflects a growing global recognition that climate harm, environmental protection and human rights are deeply connected.”

The hearings will begin in the Federal Court in Melbourne today (Tuesday) at 10.15am and will be live streamed.