Latest news with #Mardudhunera
ABC News
6 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Indigenous groups vow to keep fighting extension of Woodside's North West Shelf
Traditional owners and environmentalists have pledged to continue fighting Woodside's massive North West Shelf (NWS) project by switching their focus to the development of the Browse Basin gas fields off WA's Kimberley coast. The groups have long argued Woodside's industrial developments pose a threat to the ancient rock art in the Murujuga National Park on the Burrup Peninsula. On Wednesday, the federal government approved the company's proposal to continue its NWS operation until 2070. Browse is one of the country's biggest untapped resource projects and is considered a crucial gas supply for the NWS. "See you in court," was the reaction from Raelene Cooper, a Mardudhunera woman who launched a legal bid last week in the federal court to prevent the extension. Ms Cooper's son, Mark Clifton, said the legal fight to protect Murujuga was far from over. "We're standing side by side together as we did the last time," he said. Murujuga custodian Josie Alec said it was a "disgrace" to think industry and culture could co-exist. "This is the battle of all battles," she said. She said there were legal challenges "in the wings" and traditional owners would look towards the outstanding approval for Woodside's Browse project to disrupt the future of the North West Shelf. "There's always hope," she said. "[Browse] is 900 kilometres of pipeline through a pristine seabed which also will feed into [the North West Shelf] "Without that gas, this processing facility can't go ahead." University of Western Australia emeritus law professor Alex Gardner said there was an arguable case to challenge the yet to be approved Browse project off the Kimberley coast. The decision to extend the license for the North West Shelf until 2070 is seen a vital stepping stone to the development of Browse, which is likely to be the mother of all environmental fights. Woodside plans to develop 50 production wells in the Browse basin off the Kimberley coast, which will be connected to the North West Shelf processing plant through a 900-kilometre pipeline. If approved, most of the gas from Browse will be exported overseas, which could provide an avenue to launch legal action. Professor Gardner said judicial authorities in Europe would take 'scope three' emissions — those emitted in the countries where the gas is exported — into account when assessing the viability of a new gas field. "Maybe that's the clue here," he said. The proximity of the Browse gas field to Scott Reef has alarmed environmental groups. The reef is home to endangered whales, turtles and thousands of corals. Greenpeace said it was "appalled" by the approval of the North West Shelf extension, vowing to campaign against the Browse project. "We don't have any faith that [Woodside] are a safe operator to be able to have a production this close and at this scale to a pristine reef," WA campaign lead Jeff Bice said. "We know now that we have to increase the pressure to make sure that Environment Minister [Murray] Watt doesn't then approve the Browse proposal. "That's the whole purpose that Woodside made this extension and it's a terrible, dirty, polluting project that puts endangered species at risk."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Young Aussie's fears for ancient sites amid threat from controversial government plan
At 26, Mark Clifton's adult life is just beginning. He has hopes of having children soon and passing on his culture to them, continuing traditions spanning thousands of years. But a plan by the Albanese government to approve yet another industrial project near his community's most important sites has him worried. At over 40,000 years old, the Murujuga rock art in Western Australia's Pilbara region is the world's largest and biggest collection of petroglyphs, and scientists say toxic gases are erasing it. 'Some would say it's our Bible. It's our library, it's where all of our knowledge and history is held,' the Mardudhunera man told Yahoo News as he prepared to protest against the plan on Thursday afternoon. 'But I feel strong and empowered, knowing that I'm going to have all my old people with me today, and my ancestors.' He's carrying on the torch passed down by his mother Raelene Cooper to protect more than one million Indigenous petroglyphs engraved in the rock. In 2022, she flew to Geneva to speak before the United Nations, accusing the government of committing "cultural genocide" against her people. The art her people are trying to protect is so ancient, some even show thylacines (Tasmanian tigers) before they became extinct on the mainland. But the etchings are more than just images, they're also key to keeping cultural stories and dances alive for one of the world's oldest continuous cultures. Related: 🌏 Woodside's controversial gas well plan near pristine reef Environment Minister Murray Watt has indicated an intention to conditionally approve energy giant Woodside's proposal to continue to operate its North West Shelf gas project until 2070. By the time it wraps up, the minister will be 96 years old, and well and truly retired. But Clifton will be just 68, and likely an elder in his community, trying to pass on culture to his grandchildren, and hoping remnants of the rock art survive. Federal independent senator David Pocock told Yahoo News the situation facing Clifton is not an acceptable state of affairs in Australia. "This project, when you look at it in terms of First Nations cultural heritage, it's devastating," he said. Pocock is also concerned the "narrative that the politicians are trying to sell" about the rock art differs from a scientific report. The WA and Commonwealth governments say the rock art was considered before they agreed to extend the life of energy giant Woodside's North-West Shelf project until 2070. 'I have ensured that adequate protection for the rock art is central to my proposed decision," Watt said on Wednesday. But an expert in the rock art says the 800-page Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Report, which was given to the government to inform its decision-making, 'shows unequivocally' that industrial emissions are degrading the petroglyphs. And this conflicts with the presentation of research in the executive summary and media release issued by the WA Government. The University of WA's Professor Benjamin Smith said on Tuesday there are now multiple lines of evidence showing industrial pollution has degraded the rock art. "It will continue to do so unless we lower the industrial pollution levels," he said. There are signs the United Nations also has concerns about the government's conservation of the rock art, with UNESCO deferring its decision on giving the rock art World Heritage protection. The deferral was drafted in July and released this week, urging the government to address the degradation of the site. 'Severe pollution issues from chemical-producing industries outside the nominated property represent a significant adversely-affecting factor, and a major threat against the petroglyphs,' it concluded. It's the second hurdle the project has faced — in 2023, a submission was rejected by UNESCO after then environment minister Tanya Plibersek's team submitted a vague, low-resolution map of the area. The North West Shelf extension is the second major project the Albanese Government has approved for the region, with Plibersek green-lighting a fertiliser plant nearby in 2022. Watt's decision this week was attacked by the Greens and conservationists, who are concerned about its impact on Indigenous culture, and the 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions it will release into the atmosphere over its lifetime. Woodside welcomed Watt's decision and said it 'remained committed to protecting the Murujuga Cultural Landscape" and supported its World Heritage nomination. Woodside claims its project will provide energy security to Australia, and the project has already contributed over $40 billion in taxes and royalties, but Pocock does not believe the extension will provide significant advantages to the country. "None of the justifications put forward stack up, I don't see the benefit to Australia. We get nothing from the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax when it comes to offshore LNG [liquid natural gas], and we're connected to the international market, so more supply does not equal lower gas prices," he said. He believes there's a bigger issue than economics when it comes to Woodside's North-West Shelf plan, and that's the impact it will have on generations to come. "One of the things that we have to work on as a country is cultural change around the way that we think and make decisions. We seem to be happy making short-term decisions, rather than asking, 'What's good for us in a generation or two, what's good in 50 years'," he said. He sees little difference between Labor and the Coalition when it comes to gas policy, and believes many young people will be feeling "buyer's remorse" after preferencing Labor last election. "I think it is appalling that we have two major parties in Australia who think they do not have a duty of care for young people and future generations when it comes to climate," he said. "This is the thing we're going to be judged on by future generations. Anyone who comes after us is going to be asking, What on Earth were you thinking? You had all the scientists telling you what needed to be done." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Young Aussie's fears over ancient sites under threat from controversial industry plan
At 26, Mark Clifton's adult life is just beginning. He has hopes of having children soon and passing on his culture to them, continuing traditions spanning thousands of years. But a plan by the Albanese government to approve yet another industrial project near his community's most important sites has him worried. At over 40,000 years old, the Murujuga rock art in Western Australia's Pilbara region is the world's largest and biggest collection of petroglyphs, and scientists say toxic gases are erasing it. 'Some would say it's our Bible. It's our library, it's where all of our knowledge and history is held,' the Mardudhunera man told Yahoo News as he prepared to protest against the plan on Thursday afternoon. 'But I feel strong and empowered, knowing that I'm going to have all my old people with me today, and my ancestors.' He's carrying on the torch passed down by his mother Raelene Cooper to protect more than one million Indigenous petroglyphs engraved in the rock. In 2022, she flew to Geneva to speak before the United Nations, accusing the government of committing "cultural genocide" against her people. The art her people are trying to protect is so ancient, some even show thylacines (Tasmanian tigers) before they became extinct on the mainland. But the etchings are more than just images, they're also key to keeping cultural stories and dances alive for one of the world's oldest continuous cultures. Related: 🌏 Woodside's controversial gas well plan near pristine reef Environment Minister Murray Watt has indicated an intention to conditionally approve energy giant Woodside's proposal to continue to operate its North West Shelf gas project until 2070. By the time it wraps up, the minister will be 96 years old, and well and truly retired. But Clifton will be just 68, and likely an elder in his community, trying to pass on culture to his grandchildren, and hoping remnants of the rock art survive. Federal independent senator David Pocock told Yahoo News the situation facing Clifton is not an acceptable state of affairs in Australia. "This project, when you look at it in terms of First Nations cultural heritage, it's devastating," he said. Pocock is also concerned the "narrative that the politicians are trying to sell" about the rock art differs from a scientific report. The WA and Commonwealth governments say the rock art was considered before they agreed to extend the life of energy giant Woodside's North-West Shelf project until 2070. 'I have ensured that adequate protection for the rock art is central to my proposed decision," Watt said on Wednesday. But an expert in the rock art says the 800-page Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Report, which was given to the government to inform its decision-making, 'shows unequivocally' that industrial emissions are degrading the petroglyphs. And this conflicts with the presentation of research in the executive summary and media release issued by the WA Government. The University of WA's Professor Benjamin Smith said on Tuesday there are now multiple lines of evidence showing industrial pollution has degraded the rock art. "It will continue to do so unless we lower the industrial pollution levels," he said. There are signs the United Nations also has concerns about the government's conservation of the rock art, with UNESCO deferring its decision on giving the rock art World Heritage protection. The deferral was drafted in July and released this week, urging the government to address the degradation of the site. 'Severe pollution issues from chemical-producing industries outside the nominated property represent a significant adversely-affecting factor, and a major threat against the petroglyphs,' it concluded. It's the second hurdle the project has faced — in 2023, a submission was rejected by UNESCO after then environment minister Tanya Plibersek's team submitted a vague, low-resolution map of the area. The North West Shelf extension is the second major project the Albanese Government has approved for the region, with Plibersek green-lighting a fertiliser plant nearby in 2022. Watt's decision this week was attacked by the Greens and conservationists, who are concerned about its impact on Indigenous culture, and the 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions it will release into the atmosphere over its lifetime. Woodside welcomed Watt's decision and said it 'remained committed to protecting the Murujuga Cultural Landscape" and supported its World Heritage nomination. Woodside claims its project will provide energy security to Australia, and the project has already contributed over $40 billion in taxes and royalties, but Pocock does not believe the extension will provide significant advantages to the country. "None of the justifications put forward stack up, I don't see the benefit to Australia. We get nothing from the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax when it comes to offshore LNG [liquid natural gas], and we're connected to the international market, so more supply does not equal lower gas prices," he said. He believes there's a bigger issue than economics when it comes to Woodside's North-West Shelf plan, and that's the impact it will have on generations to come. "One of the things that we have to work on as a country is cultural change around the way that we think and make decisions. We seem to be happy making short-term decisions, rather than asking, 'What's good for us in a generation or two, what's good in 50 years'," he said. He sees little difference between Labor and the Coalition when it comes to gas policy, and believes many young people will be feeling "buyer's remorse" after preferencing Labor last election. "I think it is appalling that we have two major parties in Australia who think they do not have a duty of care for young people and future generations when it comes to climate," he said. "This is the thing we're going to be judged on by future generations. Anyone who comes after us is going to be asking, What on Earth were you thinking? You had all the scientists telling you what needed to be done." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
ABC News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Pilbara traditional owner launches legal challenge to stall North West Shelf gas decision
A Pilbara traditional owner has launched a last-minute legal bid to halt the federal government's decision on an extension of Woodside's North West Shelf gas project. Lawyers for Raelene Cooper, a Mardudhunera woman and founder of the activist group Save our Songlines, filed the order yesterday at the Federal Court in Sydney. "I'm proud to be speaking on behalf of my people," Ms Cooper told the ABC. Woodside Energy is seeking to extend its Karratha North West Shelf gas facility, about 1,500 kilometres north of Perth, for another 40 years. It was given the go-ahead by the Western Australian government in December following a six-year assessment, but still requires Commonwealth approval. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has pledged to deliver the twice-delayed ruling by the end of next week. Ms Cooper's legal action demands Mr Watt first resolve an application lodged in February 2022, calling for the ancient rock art of Murujuga National Park to be protected. The application, submitted by Ms Cooper under Section 10 of the 1984 Aboriginal Heritage Protection Act, argues Woodside's industrial developments on the Burrup Peninsula pose a threat to thousands of Aboriginal petroglyphs. Section 10 allows the minister to make a declaration for the preservation of significant cultural heritage areas and halt works that could cause "injury or desecration". The federal government committed $17.7 million in its 2024-25 budget to reduce the backlog of Section 10 applications still awaiting a declaration. "It's absolutely ludicrous," Ms Cooper said. "I expect a decision and expect an answer. Ms Cooper has previously taken legal action against the government and resources companies over the development of the Pilbara. In 2023, she successfully suspended approval for Woodside's approval to carry out seismic testing off the Pilbara coast. Ms Cooper said she hoped the application would factor into the minister's potential extension of the North West Shelf project, which is expected in the coming weeks. Murujuga is home to some of the planet's oldest known rock art, and is nominated for UNSESCO World Heritage listing. The impact of industry emissions on the area, however, remains contentious. "How does the government actually say in one breath, '[There is] universal value in this place', and then, in the next breath, 'Yeah, just destroy it all,'" Ms Cooper said. In 2019, the state government announced a $27 million partnership with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) to monitor the effects of air quality on the petroglyphs. The program's interim findings were inconclusive, although Mr Watt told ABC Perth this week that the most up-to-date data would inform his decision. Ms Cooper's 2022 application includes testimony from several Pilbara traditional owners, describing fears that the environment and rock art would be harmed by further industry. In the time since that application was submitted to the federal government, then-Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek approved a $4.5 billion fertiliser plant outside Karratha despite those same concerns. "They've ripped up several hills to put in the Perdaman project since my Section 10 has been … submitted to government," Ms Cooper said. "It's been absolutely excruciating having to wait and then go back and forth to government." Mr Watt's decision on the North West Shelf follows a two-day trip to Perth, where he met with environmentalists, Indigenous groups, and business leaders on a range of policy issues. No Pilbara traditional owner groups or delegates were present at those meetings. Sean-Paul Stephens is the chief executive at Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation (NYFL), the representative body for the land subject to Mr Watt's environmental approval. NYFL has been party to a land access agreement with Woodside since 1990. Mr Stephens said his organisation had not heard from Mr Watt, despite multiple requests to his office. "We're expecting them to come back with a proposed meeting date, but we would have preferred to have that date lined up this week while there's meetings going on in Perth," he said. "Any decisions that affect country, and affect the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the First Nations community should be made or, at least, be informed while being on country. Mr Watt did not comment on the matter, despite multiple requests from the ABC.
