Wednesday 4 June 2025
Snap actions are being held across Australia today to protest the Albanese Government’s plans to detonate a climate bomb by approving an extension to the North West Shelf gas export hub in Western Australia.
Across every state and territory, the nation’s Conservation Councils will demand real action on climate change, and call on the Albanese Government to refuse approvals for Woodside’s North West Shelf and Browse Projects.
From floods in New South Wales and Queensland, to droughts in Victoria and South Australia, to record heatwaves in Central Australia and the bleaching of Ningaloo reef in Western Australia - every corner of Australia is reeling from the climate crisis.
This week new federal Treasury analysis showed six months of natural disasters in 2025 have already cost Australia’s economy $2.2 billion, with the full March national accounts set to be released today. The climate crisis is pushing up the cost of living.
Yet in his first major decision as Australia’s new Environment Minister, Murray Watt, is set to approve an extension of the most polluting fossil fuel project in the Southern hemisphere - Woodside’s North West Shelf - to 2070.
Extending the North West Shelf could drive demand to open new gas fields - like Woodside’s proposed Browse project - which would destroy the pristine Scott Reef - a sanctuary and feeding ground for the endangered Pygmy blue whale, endangered green sea turtles, and endangered dusky sea snakes.
Among the planned actions today are a series of community demonstrations in the following locations;
NSW: 9:30am outside Prime Minister Albanese’s office, 334A Marrickville Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
Tasmania: 7:30am at 136 Davey Street, Hobart
Victoria: 10.30am, Gabriel Ng’s office, 651-653 Doncaster Road, Doncaster Northern Territory: 8am outside Labor MP Luke Gosling’s office on Trower Road, Casuarina Queensland 7:30am Main St Kangaroo Point, Brisbane
Western Australia: 8am at Elizabeth Quay (near commonwealth offices) in Perth ACT: 11am outside the Office of David Smith, MP - 205 Anketell Street, Greenway - then travelling convoy to all Federal Labor MP offices in the ACT
South Australia: 9am on the steps of Parliament, North Terrace, Adelaide. Photos from the actions will be made available.
Executive Director, Environment Centre Northern Territory, Kirsty Howey said: “Murray Watt’s first decision as Environment Minister could be signing off on this emissions bomb - setting Australia’s climate goals back by a decade.
We’ve seen the approval of the Barossa Gas field near the Tiwi Islands, the North West Shelf extension near Broome is in the wings, and we’re worried the Middle Arm petrochemical hub in Darwin could be next. From Broome and Darwin, communities are witnessing an alarming trend as these fossil fuel projects get ticked off. It isn’t a coincidence—it's a pattern of climate change denial.”
Director, Queensland Conservation Council, Dave Copeman said: “This would be an outrageous decision from a government that was voted in to deliver clean energy. It will release four billion tonnes of climate pollution until 2070, more than thirteen times Australia's annual emissions, and potentially destroy the ancient Murujuga Rock Art. “This decision threatens Queenslanders who are already exposed to more extreme weather events, as well as the survival of the Great Barrier Reef."
Environment Victoria CEO Jono La Nauze said: “We are gravely disappointed to see that one of the first acts of the newly re-elected Albanese government has been to betray future generations by approving a ticking climate bomb in the North West Shelf.
“In Victoria we’ve just seen communities rising up against the threatened imposition of nuclear power on our regions - these same communities deserve to see real action on climate from Labor, not the opening up of climate wrecking new industries out to sea.”
Chief Executive Officer, Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales, Jacqui Mumford: “Communities like Taree are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and are still mopping up from the latest floods that have destroyed homes and businesses. From Lismore to the Hunter Valley, climate change is destroying people’s lives and leaving communities in a constant state of disaster recovery.”
Chief Executive Officer, Environment Tasmania, James Overington said: “Voters across Australia overwhelmingly rejected Peter Dutton because they want a clean and healthy future, not more polluting fossil fuels. This would be a dangerous decision by the Government, with the resulting impact being felt across the country. The North West Shelf marks the Albanese government’s 27th coal, oil or gas approval since taking office. Enough’s enough.”
Matt Roberts, Executive Director, Conservation Council of Western Australia said: “Minister Watt’s provisional approval of the North West Shelf last week has received unprecedented national public backlash as new information about the impacts of the project continue to emerge. Over 65 groups are calling on Minister Watt to release the conditions of the decision and open the decision for public consultation.
“New data shows Western Australia's emissions increased for the second consecutive year, reaching near record levels of 89.37Mt CO2-e - an increase of nearly 4 per cent from the previous year. We are sleepwalking into climate chaos.
“In the recent election, Australian’s voted for Climate Action. They did not vote for Peter Dutton’s “bucket loads of gas” and a fast-tracked approval for the North West Shelf. Labor’s mandate does not extend to paving the way for more gas and climate chaos or a reckless approval for the North West Shelf.
“Opening up the Browse basin would devastate one of Australia’s most pristine reef systems and erode any chance we have of reducing our emissions.
"The Browse Project was initially rejected by our EPA because of unacceptable impacts to Scott Reef, the endangered Pygmy Blue Whale and Green Sea Turtles. The Minister needs to listen to the science and do the right thing.”
Conservation Council of South Australia Executive Director, Kirsty Bevan said: “South Australia leads the nation on renewable investment, so we’re horrified that the Albanese Government is undoing all our good work by approving these climate bombs. Labor’s climate legacy is on the line. Future generations won’t forget.”
Simon Copeland, Executive Director, Conservation Council ACT Region said: “Experts are predicting one of the warmest winters on record and another poor snow season for our alpine regions, all because of climate change.
Australian voters rejected Peter Dutton in favour of real climate action but now Albanese is trashing Labor’s climate credentials. This project will open the floodgates on over 4 billion tonnes of climate pollution.”
END
Contact details:
For further information contact:
Jem Wilson, Environment Centre Northern Territory: 0481 959 745
John Cooke, Nature Conservation Council Western Australia: 0433 679 780
James Norman, Environment Victoria: 0451 291 775.