Overview
- Environment Minister Murray Watt issued the final approval with 48 enforceable conditions covering specific air‑pollution cuts, continuous emissions monitoring, annual reductions and a net‑zero requirement by 2050.
- Nitrogen oxide emissions must fall 60% by 2030 and 90% by 2061, with similar caps for sulphur oxides, according to the government’s published conditions.
- A partial heritage declaration under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act was made for Murujuga, which adds protections but does not halt industrial operations and excludes damage from industrial gaseous emissions.
- The decision extends operations at the existing Karratha gas plant rather than authorizing new onshore facilities and follows earlier sign‑off by the Western Australian government.
- Woodside and industry groups welcomed regulatory certainty for jobs and energy supply, while conservation groups warned of lifetime emissions exceeding four billion tonnes CO2‑e and Pacific voices flagged potential international legal consequences.