The Federal Environment Minister has vowed to make a final ruling on Australia’s biggest fossil fuel project, the proposed North West Shelf extension, before the end of May.

Allowing Woodside’s massive North West Shelf gas export terminal to run for another 46 years means 4.3 billion tonnes of emissions, equivalent to 12 new coal-fired power stations each year.

If wrecking our climate wasn’t enough, Australia Institute research shows gas export projects like these drive up domestic energy prices – all to feed corporate profits.

The Australian Government has the power to stop this climate wrecking project in its tracks – but they only have until the end of May. 

The Government has already delayed this decision for months, after facing pressure from tens of thousands of Australians speaking out against the project.

But the gas lobby is hard at work, ensuring Murray Watt gives them the green light.

We can’t be silent. 

Together, we have to ensure the Australian Government knows our eyes are on them and that the Australian public demands no more fossil fuel projects. 

✍️ Will you sign this urgent petition demanding Environment Minister Murray Watt put people before profit and reject Woodside’s North West Shelf extension? 

Tell me more about this project

Multinational gas corporation, Woodside, is seeking approval for a 46-year extension of its North West Shelf gas export terminal, Australia’s biggest fossil fuel project. Australia Institute analysis shows that a decision to extend this project would result in more emissions and damage to our climate than any other fossil fuel project in Australia. 

This mega-polluting project will wreck the climate, destroy priceless Indigenous art and drive up WA energy bills. 

The WA Government’s gave the project the green light and now the Australian Government now has until the end of May to intervene and either reject – or approve – this massive fossil fuel project.

This project will:

• Wreck the climate: Woodside’s own estimates show this project extension will emit 4.3 billion tonnes in emissions over its lifetime, making a mockery of state and federal net zero ambitions.

• Drive up household energy bills: Australia Institute shows that to feed this gas export project, Woodside is increasingly exporting WA’s domestic gas reserves. This is depleting WA’s finite domestic gas reserves and will expose West Australians to high global prices for decades. High gas prices are also driving up the cost of producing electricity in WA. The result is higher energy bills for WA in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. 

• Devastate priceless Indigenous cultural heritage: The facility produces acid gas emissions that are corroding the World Heritage-nominated Murujuga rock art, one of the world’s most important cultural heritage sites. It is five times as old as the pyramids and eight times older than Stonehenge.

• Put corporate profit before communities: With little economic benefit to Australians, this project serves only the corporate profits of Woodside and the gas lobby. Australian communities need a safe climate and affordable energy – not more fossil fuel projects.