Overview
- Friends of Australian Rock Art launched a Supreme Court challenge on June 16 against the WA government’s December decision to extend the North West Shelf project’s life.
- The legal action contends the government’s environmental approval failed to assess the emissions impact of extending operations from 2030 to 2070 on Murujuga’s Aboriginal rock art and broader climate.
- Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt provisionally endorsed the extension in May, subject to strict cultural heritage and air quality conditions to safeguard the Burrup Peninsula.
- Woodside Energy has expressed confidence in the robustness of the state’s approval process while reviewing the mandated federal safeguards.
- Indigenous advocate Raelene Cooper is pursuing a separate Federal Court bid in mid-July to compel Commonwealth consideration of rock art heritage protections.