Environmental protestors have descended on Elizabeth Quay calling for the Federal Government to reverse its decision to grant an extension to Woodside’s North West Shelf Project.
As previously reported, the North West Shelf liquefied natural gas project was given a conditional extension – until 2070 – which could see devastation for the region’s marine life, according to experts.
A group of activists congregated in the Perth CBD – as well as other capital cities – to call on the Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt to reverse the decision.
“This is a national day of action, we have actions happening right across the continent this morning and today calling on Murray Watt to not approve the North West Shelf Extension. (The project) is the most polluting gas project in the southern hemisphere and was proposed to close in 2030, but what we saw last week was Murray Watt, the new Federal Environment Minister, provisionally approve Woodside’s extension of the project through to 2070, which is twenty years after we’re meant to be at net-zero,” Jordan Rowand, from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, told Luke Sharp on Wednesday.
Protestors, on Wednesday morning, had concern for the Scott Reef, which they claim would be ‘destroyed’ if the extension goes ahead. The ecosystem is a sanctuary and feeding ground for endangered Pygmy blue whales, endangered green sea turtles, and endangered dusky sea snakes.
“This is the most polluting and largest emitting project that we might see in the southern hemisphere. What kind of message is this sending to young people, who made up almost half of voters at the last federal election, about how serious they are on climate,” Rowand told listeners.
To hear more about the protest, click play below.
