Overview

• Environment Minister Murray Watt’s published statement confirms approval of the North West Shelf to 2070 under 48 conditions requiring acidic pollutant cuts of 60% by 2030 and 90% by 2061.
• Watt accepted multiple lines of evidence that industrial emissions have already damaged Murujuga’s rock surfaces and are likely causing accelerated, irreversible weathering, citing a precautionary approach.
• The final conditions replaced an initial no‑detectable‑emissions requirement after the company said meeting it would effectively shut the plant and the department agreed it was not possible with current technology.
• Western Australia’s regulator maintains the elevated degradation is most likely historical and says current monitoring has not found pollution above its level of concern, highlighting a state–federal divergence.
• Traditional owners and conservation groups say the statement validates long‑held warnings of harm, while Woodside says research on emissions impacts remains inconclusive and the new conditions will not materially raise capital costs.