Approval of Woodside's North West Shelf gas extension to 2070 slammed by religious leaders
Faith leaders say they are 'deeply troubled' by the Federal Government's decision to approve the extension of the North West Shelf gas processing facility to 2070.
On Wednesday, Labor approved a 40-year extension of the country's largest gas plant.
While Environment Minister Murray Watt's decision to grant the approval for Woodside's North West Shelf extension in Western Australia's Pilbara has been praised by industry and unions, others have condemned it due to the threat to the Murujuga cultural heritage.
President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Charissa Suli told reporters in Perth on Sunday, she is 'profoundly disappointed' about the approval of the North West Shelf gas processing facility.
'As a daughter of the Pacific, I have witnessed first-hand the devastating impacts of climate change on culturally rich but environmentally vulnerable nations in our region,' she said.
'These nations — many of which are home to Uniting Church partners within the Asia-Pacific — contribute the least to global emissions yet suffer the greatest consequences.
'Why then is approval granted to an old, polluting facility to continue emitting vast
volumes of climate damaging emissions of a magnitude many times greater than the
emissions of all the Pacific nations? This is not loving thy neighbour.'
Rev Mitchell Garlett from the Uniting Aboriginal & Islander Christian Congress added he is 'very disappointed' that the decision was made without 'close consultation with the relevant Traditional Owners'.
'The connection we feel to Country is not just a physical thing but a spiritual connection that is deeper than what we see with our eyes,' he said.
'It is heartbreaking that reconciliation is spoken of but our brothers and sisters voices are not being heard, and the land continues to suffer for so-called progress.'
Rev Dr Ian Tozer added they are 'deeply concerned' by the threat to First Nations cultural heritage sites, including 60,000-year-old priceless petroglyphs at the World Heritage nominated Murujuga rock art site.
'It is vital that these ancient sites, so precious to Australia's First Peoples and to our history, are not further damaged by industry,' he said.
Meanwhile, Woodside has said the approval would support thousands of jobs and supply affordable energy to Western Australia.
The project has supplied 6000 petajoules of domestic gas, powering homes and industry in Western Australia with enough energy to power homes in a city the size of Perth for approximately 175 years, the company said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
28 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Are your promises worth anything?': Fiery clash in NSW parliament over controversial workers comp reform
NSW's workplace tsar has been accused of breaking a promise over workers compensation reforms in a furious clash in parliament. A revised proposal to reform workers compensation, specifically psychological injuries claims, was tabled last week by Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis. Ms Cotsis said the compensation plan sought to instil a 'culture of prevention' in the scheme, and give clarity to employers on their rights and responsibilities. Detractors argue the changes would lock many out of receiving damages – namely a new 30 per cent threshold for permanent impairment due to psychological injury. While the Opposition is yet to formally announce its position on the bill, Liberal leader Mark Speakman questioned Ms Cotsis on Tuesday morning over the threshold. Mr Speakman claimed during question time that Ms Cotsis had pledged to remove the provision – known as Section 39 – altogether prior to the 2023 state election. 'Are your promises worth anything?' Mr Speakman asked, sparking shouting across the chamber. In the fiery exchange that ensued, Ms Cotsis shot back that she was 'more of a worker's friend than the Leader of the Opposition (is)'. 'Where were you when people died under your watch?,' Ms Cotsis said, referencing the former Coalition government. 'Where were you when review after review came out and said that you needed to fix work health and safety? You were nowhere.' Police Minister Yasmin Catley, Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison, and Building Minister Anoulack Chanthivong were all also grilled over their position on Section 39. 'I'm delighted to always get a question about workers in this place,' Mr Chanthivong said. 'Because there's only one party in this parliament to speak when it comes to workers – its actually us'. The planned reforms have stirred controversy since they were first introduced earlier this year, with support from some of the businesses community. The state's unions, including the NSW Teachers Federation, Unions NSW, and the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, have instead opposed the bill. Their members rallied outside parliament earlier this month, calling on the government to reconsider the plan and to engage with the unions. In tabling the bill last month, Ms Cotsis noted amendments had been made since its first iteration and that a tripartite review committee would be established, including Unions NSW. The bill also seeks to address the NSW government's bottom-line, with Treasurer Daniel Moohkey ruling out any further payments to the state's self-insurer. Business leaders told a parliamentary inquiry into the bill earlier this year that insurance premiums to businesses and charities had seen their premiums increase. Treasury modelling released by the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday warned business and not-for-profits may be forced to fork out an extra $1bn per year if reforms aren't made. A separate bill seeking to amend workplace health and safety legislation was also tabled in NSW parliament.
News.com.au
28 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Respect for you': Email read in court in Kiama MP Gareth Ward's sexual assault trial
A parliamentary associate who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him has told a court that he still respects him 'immensely', describing him as an 'incredible local member'. Mr Ward, 43, is facing a four-week criminal trial in the Downing Centre District Court on allegations he sexually abused two young men. The NSW independent MP was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015. Mr Ward arrived in court on Tuesday for the second week of the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC. The complainant who was 24 at the time of the alleged assault took the stand to give evidence for a fourth day. During a cross-examination by defence solicitor David Campbell SC, an email the man sent to Mr Ward in March 2019 was read to the court. In the email the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, wrote to Mr Ward to express his interest in the hope of securing a parliamentaryrole before flourishing the state independent MP with compliments. 'You know just how committed I am to this … how loyal I am to my boss, and how hard I work … and that I would give it all to make you look good,' the man's email said. The man then wrote in bold type that he would have 'no hard feelings' if Mr Ward could not find a role for him. 'Your friendship means the world to me … and my respect for you is already as high as it can be,' the email read. Mr Campbell put to the man that it was 'hardly a sentence you would use to describe a man who you allege had previously sexually violated you'. 'I disagree … this is me auditioning for a job … sometimes you overcompensate,' the man replied, adding that he had 'embellished' the email. Mr Campbell said the man had been prepared to say something 'false' in the email, referring to his description of their friendship, to which the man agreed but added that he still held professional esteem for Mr Ward. The man told the court that he still respected Mr Ward 'immensely', adding that he is an 'incredible local member'. When he quizzed the man over his conversation with another parliamentary staffer in 2019, Mr Campbell said the man had told the staffer words to the effect that then Premier Gladys Berejiklian had selected a 'rapist', Mr Ward, as the minster for children in her cabinet. The man replied that he didn't recall the conversation, but it would be 'consistent' with what he reported to police. THE ALLEGATIONS The man had earlier told the court that he attended an event on the night of the alleged assault at NSW Parliament House in 2015 before heading back to Mr Ward's apartment. At Mr Ward's apartment, the MP poured the man a drink before allegedly attempting to kiss him on his balcony, to which the political staffer pushed him away and said 'no'. Mr Ward leaned in again a short time later and kissed the man before the 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, the court was told. The Crown alleges the man was shown to his room by Mr Ward, who had allegedly stripped down to his boxers. Mr Ward allegedly put an arm over the man and his hands on the man's buttocks before he was told to stop. Without warning, it's alleged Mr Ward digitally penetrated him before allegedly kissing his neck and masturbating. The two maintained a professional relationship for some time after the alleged events, the court was told. The man made a formal statement years later to police, and Mr Ward was formally charged in March 2022. In her opening address last week, Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles alleged that Mr Ward indecently assaulted another man, who had just turned 18, at his home on the South Coast in February 2013. Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since. The trial before a 15-person jury continues.
News.com.au
32 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Mary Fowler detail behind bombshell Nathan Cleary exit claim
Nathan Cleary has been increasingly linked with a Panthers exit in recent months, with rumours from an English Super League move to a rugby defection floated. But according to veteran NRL pundit Andrew Voss, the halfback's next move will almost certainly be for love, following Matildas superstar Mary Fowler to the UK where she plays for powerhouse football club Manchester City. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. Cleary is contracted to the Panthers until the end of 2027 but Voss believes the time is now for the star halfback to capitalise on the pull of his surname and make the move to the northern hemisphere. 'I'll get a little romantic,' Voss said to his co-host on SEN 1170 Breakfast on Tuesday. 'There is no doubt the young man is in love and his love is on the other side of the world and his love is never coming back to Australia for her sporting career because she can't. 'Nathan has won four premierships, Origin, he's a Test player, World Cup; he has achieved all the things you want to do in a career and I'm saying love might win out here. 'I'm not saying playing union but I can see Cleary playing in the northern hemisphere. 'It's obvious they're in love and how long can that relationship be on the other side of the world when there is a solution?' However, there are two major barriers stopping that move. Firstly Cleary still has two years to run on his Panthers deal after the current season. But much like Penrith's decision to let James Fisher-Harris break his contract for family reasons at the end of last year, it would be a possibility the club would grant his wish to leave especially if it was to follow his heart abroad instead of playing for a rival NRL team or code hopping. The second problem is trickier, and that is the issue that Super League players don't earn anywhere near the money of NRL stars. But as rumours circulate that NRL Europe could soon be a reality, Voss believes Cleary could be playing in England come next year. 'If NRL Europe comes into being and I think it will be announced later in the year with grandiose plans,' he said. 'Teams in London and France, they will pick how they want the comp to look. 'I don't know where the money comes from but I think a London marquee signing of Cleary at some stage makes sense. 'Nathan Cleary ticks a massive box, that gives them the headline they want, they become an A-list couple, I'm talking massive picture here.' Voss' comments come after earlier this year former NRL hardman Mark Carroll urged the halfback to follow his heart. 'The great thing about Cleary is he can have his cake and eat it, too. He doesn't have to quit rugby league to be with the love of his life,' Carroll wrote in his weekly column for The Nightly. 'Cleary's won four premierships with Penrith, landed two Clive Churchill medals and played in three winning State of Origin series with NSW. He's represented Australia in five Tests, helping the Kangaroos to a World Cup victory in 2021. 'He will be part of the revived Kangaroo tour at the end of the year, providing he is fit. At 27, the half-back's legacy in the game is ensured. There's not much more for him to prove. 'I'm sure he and Mary have discussed a move and I hope he does take the leap. It would not only be a great love story, but Cleary's move into uncharted rugby league waters would also capture the hearts of fans in two countries.'
