The environment minister says the opposition’s pledge to fast-track approval of Woodside’s North West Shelf extension exposes the gas project to “protracted” lawsuits that would further stall the development.
Tanya Plibersek said pre-judging the outcome of an application was against the law, warning Peter Dutton’s proposed intervention risked sending Woodside “back to square one”.
“It’s a recipe for uncertainty that’ll scare off investment and kill jobs,” she said.
The Coalition is promising a decision on Woodside’s plan to extend its gas processing plant in WA’s remote north-west out to 2070 within 30 days of winning the election, after a six-year assessment process involving state and federal authorities.
Plibersek last month deferred a ruling on the application until 31 March, avoiding a decision ahead of the WA state election. The WA government issued state approvals last December and is eager for a green light from Canberra.
If the federal election is called before the revised deadline, a decision would not be made until after the poll, leaving the project’s future up in the air.
Campaigning in Perth on Wednesday, Dutton promised to bring forward a final verdict under a stronger “national interest” test that would require decision-makers to give greater weight to a project’s economic and social benefits in the environmental approval process.
While a press release detailing the announcement only said the Coalition would fast-track a decision on the application, Dutton made it clear the project would be approved under his watch.
“There is no conceivable reason as to why approval can’t be given, except if you’ve got a minister who is beholden to Greens voters in inner-city Sydney and Melbourne and putting the interests of those greens voters over the interests of WA,” he said.
“That won’t be an experience of our government.
“We will have a strong minister in [the shadow environment minister] Jonno Duniam and we will make sure that this approval is arrived at in 30 days.”
After the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, dismissed Dutton’s latest “thought bubble”, Plibersek warned the promise could in fact prolong Woodside’s wait for approval.
“Peter Dutton’s reckless announcement today opens the door to protracted legal challenges which could set the project’s timeline back years,” she said.
“Pre-judging projects is against the law, so Peter Dutton’s dangerous move risks sending the project back to square one.”
“Clearly, Peter Dutton wants a system where getting projects approved depends more on whether he likes you, not whether you comply with the law. That’s no way to run a government.”
Dutton dismissed suggestions the commitment risked provoking legal challenge, declaring “I don’t think we see that risk at all”.
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“There’s already a national interest test within the [Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation] act now – Tanya Plibersek just chooses not use it.”
A Coalition government would also introduce laws to prevent “activists” from challenging approvals that were issued more than 12 months earlier.
Kate Chaney, the independent MP for Curtin, questioned if the project would pass a “national interest” test, given most of the gas would be exported.
“In a move that’s straight out of the Trump playbook, Peter Dutton wants to override approval processes and proper scrutiny. We need approval processes for a reason, and we need to protect their integrity, without political interference.”
The Greens and environmental groups condemned the Coalition’s full-throated support for Woodside’s project, which scientists and conservationists warn would result in billions of tonnes of emissions and threaten ancient Murujuga rock art and the Scott Reef.
“The North West Shelf project extension is not in our national interest,” the Greens’ environment spokesperson, Sarah Hanson-Young, said.
“Woodside’s gas greed would be an environmental disaster and environment minister Tanya Plibersek should have rejected it well before the upcoming federal election.”
Brendan Sydes, the Australian Conservation Foundation’s national nature policy adviser, said the Coalition was confusing the “national interest with the commercial interest of a big fossil fuel company”.
Australian Energy Producers, the peak body for gas companies, including Woodside, welcomed the announcement.
“The opposition’s proposed reforms recognise the need for an effective and streamlined regulatory environment to provide greater certainty and attract investment in urgently needed new gas supply,” the group’s chief executive, Samantha McCulloch, said.