Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the decision to extend operations at Australia’s largest gas facility, the North West Shelf, through to 2070, arguing it is necessary to maintain a stable energy supply as coal-fired plants close in the coming years.
Environment Minister Murray Watt granted conditional approval for Woodside Energy’s project to continue for another 40 years, extending its environmental clearance beyond its original expiry in 2030.
The decision has sparked strong backlash from environmental groups, who claim it could increase emissions and jeopardize Australia’s climate targets.
Under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, the minister is not permitted to weigh a project’s climate impact when granting approval.
In an interview with ABC Brisbane, Prime Minister Albanese reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing emissions by 43% by 2030, noting that Australia has already reached 46% renewable energy, with a target of 82% by the decade’s end.
He emphasized the need for reliable energy sources—such as batteries, hydro, and gas—to support the shift to renewables, particularly as Western Australia prepares to shut its final coal plant in Collie by 2027. Gas, he said, will play a key role in backing renewable power in the transition period.
While the approval does not expand the North West Shelf’s physical scope, it opens the possibility for future developments. Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill welcomed the decision and indicated that the company is now focused on developing the Browse gas field, which is currently under government review.
Browse would involve 50 new wells in the Browse Basin and a 900-kilometre pipeline to connect the site to the North West Shelf processing facility in Karratha. The proposal has been under assessment for six years.
Greens leader Larissa Waters criticized the timing of the approval, suggesting it was delayed until after the election for political reasons. She called the decision “dangerous” and accused the government of undermining climate goals by approving fossil fuel development until 2070.
Independent MP Allegra Spender echoed these concerns, saying the current environmental laws fail to account for the climate crisis and that the North West Shelf approval sends conflicting messages about Australia’s commitment to net zero by 2050.
At the same time, the Coalition is re-evaluating its net zero emissions pledge. Nationals deputy leader Kevin Hogan said the review would consider economic impacts, technological advances, and potential new solutions, as the party hasn’t revisited the issue in several years.
Globally, some countries—including Iran and Indonesia—have yet to commit to net zero by 2050. China and Russia aim for 2060, while several nations that have pledged to hit the 2050 target are still falling short. Iran, Libya, and Yemen remain the only nations not to ratify the Paris Agreement, although former U.S. President Donald Trump has also signaled intentions to withdraw the United States again.
