Overview

• Environment Minister Murray Watt granted preliminary approval for Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, giving the company 10 business days to submit plans to curb air emissions.
• UNESCO’s draft decision rejected Australia’s bid to list the Burrup Peninsula as a World Heritage site, citing “degrading acidic emissions” that threaten up to two million Aboriginal petroglyphs at Murujuga.
• The Climate Council warns the extension would release 4.4 billion tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime, drawing criticism from Pacific island leaders who say the expansion endangers their nations’ future.
• Traditional owners and environmental groups have launched legal action under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act, demanding cultural heritage assessments and stronger safeguards for sacred rock art.
• Federal and state leaders defend the decision as critical for energy security and necessary to provide firming capacity as Australia transitions to a renewables-dominated grid.