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EDO seeks injunction to protect Great Barrier Reef from gas project
The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is seeking an injunction from the Federal Court against Woodside’s Scarborough Gas Project, over “climate harms” to the world’s largest coral reef system.
Jerome Doraisamy
On behalf of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), the EDO is set to argue that the $16 billion fossil fuel project should not be allowed to commence unless it is approved under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
“The Scarborough Gas Project is a for-export LNG proposal off Murujuga/the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia, which will result in the release of an estimated 878.02 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over its lifetime,” EDO said.
“That’s equivalent to more than double the total emissions of Australia’s energy sector in 2020, or 20-times Australia’s passenger car emissions that same year.
“Under federal law, a blanket approval applies to all offshore gas and oil projects, which allows projects to be assessed under a streamlined process by the offshore regulator, NOPSEMA. However, this approval does not apply to projects that are likely to significantly impact the heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef.”
Speaking about the injunction being sought, EDO managing lawyer Brendan Dobbie said that given the “huge amount greenhouse gas emissions set to be unleashed by this project, Scarborough is likely to have a significant impact on the heritage values of our unique and fragile Great Barrier Reef”, which he said is already facing extreme stress due to climate change.
“We’re applying for an injunction against the Scarborough Gas Project in the Federal Court. This is the first time that the court has been asked to consider objective scientific evidence about the greenhouse gas impacts of an offshore gas project on our Great Barrier Reef,” he noted.
“We’re asking the court to restrain construction of the Scarborough Gas Project because of its climate impacts on the Great Barrier Reef.
“We are running out of time to save our reef.
“It’s critical that the impacts of harmful new fossil fuel projects on the Great Barrier Reef are recognised and properly assessed.”
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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