Traditional Owners have expressed their dismay as the Western Australian government announces environmental approval for a massive gas plant.
The North West Shelf Project is one of the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in the world and includes the Karratha Gas Plant, about 1500 kilometres north of Perth, and three offshore platforms.
On Thursday, WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby approved Woodside Energy's plan to operate the plant near Murujuga, a unique gallery of ancient rock art, until 2070, after six years of assessments and hundreds of appeals against it.
Mardudhunera woman Raelene Cooper has described the decision as "genocide".
"My family and I hold a footprint, a DNA footprint, to this area, the coastline of the Pilbara," Ms Cooper, the founder of the Save our Songlines group said.
"It's a slow motion of genocide.
"They are killing our people, killing our history, killing, murdering our identity, washing us off the planet."
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Western Australia's ' Cultural Genocide'
episode • Living Black • Current Affairs • 34m
episode • Living Black • Current Affairs • 34m
In a statement Woodside said the environmental approval was a critical step in the approvals process to underpin the ongoing operation of the North West Shelf Project.
On Friday more than 100 climate campaigners protested outside Woodside's office.
Following the Woodside protest, dozens of activists occupied Dumas House, the WA government headquarters, lying down and singing protest songs for an hour until they were removed by police, with former Greens senator Jo Vallentine arrested and charged with trespass along with one other protestor.
Activists occupy offices of the WA Government in protest of the approval of Woodside's Karratha gas plant to operate until 2070.
Ms Cooper said Murujuga is a magical place - and it was a terrible feeling to know that the gas plant would continue operating for decades.
"It's a pretty significant place," she said.
"Our oceans and our waters and our animals that are being impacted.
"You see all the destruction and all the natural disasters are happening, it's coming really quick."
Approval paves way for 'biollions of tonnes' of polution
The WA decision restarts the federal environmental approvals process, which was paused while appeals were being considered.
It’s also caused frustration and anger among conservationists, climate change activists, politicians and a think tank.
WA Greens MP Brad Pettitt said the project was one of the largest and most polluting fossil fuel projects in the nation.
“Allowing the Karratha gas plant to operate for 50 more years – 20 years past Australia’s legislated commitment to reach net zero emissions – will result in billions of tonnes of climate pollution being released into the atmosphere over the next few decades,” he said.
Australian Institute advisor Mark Ogge said the decision would be a disaster for the climate, energy prices and the rock art at Murujuga on the Burrup Peninsula.
He said the 4.3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions expected across the life of the project – the equivalent of 24 coal power stations – meant that the World Heritage nominated Murujuga rock art sites would continue to be eroded.
It’s also expected to lead to higher energy prices for WA households and businesses.
“Woodside is running out of offshore gas, so it is coming after WA’s onshore domestic reserves,” Mr Ogge said.
“This has already tripled gas and electricity prices in WA, and this decision will lock those price increases for decades.”
WA opposition leader Shane Love said the six-year approval time had undermined confidence in WA’s gas industry and put our energy future at risk.
“It is now crucial that the Albanese Labor Government acts swiftly to approve the project without further delay,” he said.
Greenpeace said the decision was a “kick in the guts” and called on federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to reject the project’s application.
The WA Conservation Council said the state government had failed the community and future generations.
“This is a monumentally destructive decision,” fossil fuels program manager Anna Chapman said.
Under the new approval, Woodside agreed to a range of environmental management measures, which include a significant reduction in air emissions and greenhouse gas emissions management action to reduce emissions over time.
In a ministerial statement released on Thursday, Mr Whitby said plans to extend the life of the export facility could proceed with a range of conditions, including consulting with traditional owners, monitoring air quality and reviewing its emissions reduction measures.
But Ms Cooper said Mr Whitby should think about the consequences of his actions.
"Another 50 years - it's genocide," she said.
