Join renowned artists, cultural experts, and institutional leaders - including Thomas Keneally, Jimmy Barnes, Sir Antony Gormley, Tim Winton, Ben Quilty, Fiona Hall, Paul Kelly, Patricia Piccinini, Tony Birch, Tracey Moffat, Peter Carey, Robyn Davidson, and Kate Grenville - in calling for the protection of the Murujuga Rock Art.

The Australia Institute’s research highlights that the petroglyphs on Murujuga, a site listed on Australia’s National Heritage List, have been nominated by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and the Western Australian Government for the UNESCO World Heritage List, with a final decision expected in June 2025.

These irreplaceable 40,000-year-old rock engravings - twice as ancient as the Lascaux cave paintings in France and eight times older than the pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge - are at risk of permanent destruction due to acid rain caused by gas processing. Without immediate intervention, this priceless cultural heritage could be lost forever.

Photo credit: Save our Songlines

Government Decisions Threaten Murujuga’s Future

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has delayed ruling on a 50-year extension for a foreign-owned gas export business until May 30, 2025. Meanwhile, opposition leader Peter Dutton has expressed intentions to fast-track the project’s approval within 30 days if elected.

The Australia Institute is calling on the Australian Government to reject this gas industry expansion on the Burrup Peninsula, and to support the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and the Western Australian Government in their bid for UNESCO World Heritage recognition.

Why This Matters

Murujuga is an internationally significant site, deeply spiritual for its traditional custodians, and an invaluable record of human history. The rock art depicts prehistoric megafauna, early human life, and even the arrival of Europeans.

Professor Benjamin Smith, a world-leading rock art expert from the University of Western Australia, warns: “How long do we have to wait before we act on this? We keep getting more and more evidence... a point must be reached where you say, ‘we now have enough on the table to show that we have a serious problem here and we need to act.’”

The Cost of Inaction

The proposed gas export expansion:

• Threatens to destroy the world’s largest, densest, and most diverse collection of rock engravings.
• Will release over 4 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
• Sells 90% of its gas overseas while driving up local power prices.
• Locks Australia into an environmentally destructive agreement for the next 50 years.

Take Action: Sign the Petition

Help stop this senseless destruction. Demand that the Australian Government reject the gas export extension and protect the Murujuga Rock Art for future generations.

As the National Museum of Australia states, “Rock art is an important part of First Nations life and culture, and needs to be protected. If we care for rock art, all Australians can appreciate it for generations to come.”

Murujuga is one of seven rock art sites on Australia’s National Heritage List, alongside Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Kakadu, and the Tasmanian Wilderness. These exceptional ancient sites are protected under Australian law – the future of Murujuga should not be compromised.

40,000 years in the making, only a few years to destroy.

Join artists, experts, and cultural leaders and sign the petition to help safeguard Murujuga’s legacy for all generations.

More information

• About Murujuga - Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation

• Artists - List of signatories - February 2025

• National Heritage Places - Dampier Archipelago (including Burrup Peninsula) 13 November 2024

• Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Murujuga UNESCO World Heritage nomination

• First Rock Art - National Museum of Australia 6 September 2023

• The world wouldn’t allow mining to endanger Stonehenge, yet Australia allows ancient treasures to be threatened by Stephen Long 10 February 2025

• Murujuga's rock art is being destroyed - where is the outrage? by Professor of Archaeology (World Rock Art) at the UWA Benjamin Smith

• We All Come Together For Country Bill 2025 SPEECH Wednesday, 26 March 2025 Speaker Sen Dorinda Cox 26 March 2025