Overview

• The Federal Court in Melbourne dismissed Doctors for the Environment Australia’s bid to overturn NOPSEMA’s acceptance of Woodside’s Scarborough environment plan.
• Justice Shaun McElwaine said it was not the court’s role to re‑weigh the merits of the decision and found it was open to NOPSEMA to accept the plan under offshore regulations.
• DEA, represented by the Environmental Defenders Office, argued the plan was vague and failed to show emissions would be cut to as low as reasonably practicable.
• Friends of Australian Rock Art began a WA Supreme Court challenge to the North West Shelf extension, with a directions hearing scheduled for October 21.
• Murujuga custodian Raelene Cooper asked the Federal Court to compel a decision on her heritage application, while Woodside says Scarborough is expected to produce up to 8 Mtpa with first LNG in the second half of 2026.