PERTH, Monday 23 February 2026 — New details about considered one of Australia’s most polluting fossil gas initiatives, Woodside’s North West Shelf gasoline extension, proves the fossil gas multinational can’t be trusted forward of a significant milestone for its Browse challenge.
The paperwork, launched beneath Freedom of Data legal guidelines and printed by 9 Papers in the present day, confirmed that Woodside lobbied the federal authorities to water down circumstances positioned on its North West Shelf challenge in September.
It comes because the WA Environmental Safety Company (EPA) prepares at hand down its advice on Woodside’s controversial Browse plans, a key element for the North West Shelf. It was revealed, once more by way of FOIs, that the WA EPA was to reject Browse in 2024, declaring the plans to have “unacceptable impacts” on Scott Reef, Australia’s largest oceanic reef system.
Gemma Plesman, Senior Campaigner at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, stated: “How was Woodside in a position to self-appoint because the decide, jury and executor of the North West Shelf, considered one of Australia’s dirtiest and most polluting fossil gas initiatives? The extent of affect and interference is chilling and is an indication of what to anticipate from Woodside. Woodside has been enjoying soiled, making an attempt to put in writing its personal guidelines about one of the consequential and controversial fossil gas initiatives on Australia’s books.
“All eyes are actually on the WA EPA, which is about at hand down its advice on the Browse challenge. Woodside has revised its Browse plans a number of occasions – most not too long ago in 2025, however the actuality is: Woodside nonetheless needs to drill greater than 50 gasoline wells round Scott Reef, and their plans nonetheless threaten a few of our ocean’s most weak species like endangered pygmy blue whales and inexperienced turtles, and nonetheless threat oil spills, seismic blasting and reef sinking.
“Clearly, Woodside can’t be trusted. It has been desperately attempting and failing for years to get Browse off the bottom and can do something it might probably to push the plans forward, and the North West Shelf scandal is proof. The EPA should advocate rejecting this proposal, and the WA authorities should put an finish to this shoddy challenge.”
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