Murray Watt under pressure in Perth as groups remain for and against North West Shelf extension

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Murray Watt under pressure in Perth as groups remain for and against North West Shelf extension

Murray Watt has promised to listen as he arrived in Perth for a series of meetings with all sides of the debate over a looming decision on Woodside’s proposed North West Shelf extension.

The new Federal Environment Minister has vowed to end the stalemate and make a decision by May 31.

“Looking forward to some really constructive meetings,” he said.

“There’s a lot of Ministers who’ve got an interest in the issues within my portfolio and really looking forward to some constructive chats we’ll have.

“I’ll have a bit more to say about everything a bit later this afternoon.”

He met with Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti, Labor Ministers Simone McGurk and Don Punch at State Parliament and was due to meet Premier Roger Cook and WA Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourne on Tuesday afternoon.

“The first thing I’ll do is congratulate him on his new portfolio,” the Premier told reporters in East Perth.

“We’ll be urging him to make a decision in relation to the North West Shelf gas extensions as soon as possible, but in a manner which provides for a safe and legally sound decision.”

There are already signs Federal approval would be challenged in the courts, with Perth millionaire Janet Holmes a Court joining the ranks of conservation groups opposed to the $36 billion project.

At a press conference outside State Parliament on Tuesday, she signalled her support for a potential court challenge and accused Woodside shareholders of pursuing profits ahead of cultural preservation.

“The shareholders of Woodside, I believe, are mainly overseas and all they want is money,” Ms Holmes a Court said.

“They couldn’t care less about Indigenous art or climate change, they’re interested in their dividends.”

She urged Mr Watt to visit the site of Murujuga rock art before making a final decision.

“Woodside is dissolving and ruining this rock art, wanting to extend that vandalism for another 50 years” she said.

Camera IconJanet Holmes a Court. Credit: Alan Chau/The West ***********

“There are petroglyphs there of animals that have been extinct in that part of the world for 7 or 800 thousand years. It’s a mind boggling experience to go there.”

The Conservation Council of WA has argued the extension of the North-West Shelf will add six billion tonnes of carbon pollution and delay the transition to renewable sources of energy.

Mr Cook has argued the case for gas as a transition fuel and said a balance is needed.

“We know that this whole issue invites very passionate views on all sides of the debate,” he said.

“We stand with them in wanting to protect the Burrup Peninsula . . . but we have the circumstances in front of us now that piece of infrastructure is incredibly important.

“If we can maintain the Karratha gas plant that’s a much better way to go than shutting it down now and seeing other developments, other projects have to develop the same sort of infrastructure to make sure that we can enjoy the benefits of that gas.”

Woodside says the North West Shelf extension is necessary to support thousands of jobs and WA’s future gas supply.

Industry groups have warned any further delay, or a determination against the proposal, could deter investors.

“Major project investment decisions are not taken lightly,” Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson said.

“There is significant upfront risk involved, and the ability to provide process and timeline certainty can be the difference between that capital being deployed here versus overseas.”

The *********** Conservation Foundation, which is also meeting with Mr Watt, said oil and gas workers could find jobs elsewhere.

“The oil and gas industry in WA adds fewer jobs per dollar of value added to the economy than any other industry in the State,” ACF climate campaigner Piper Rollins said.

“If the WA Government was serious about jobs, they would be better off investing in Bunnings or Maccas.”

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