Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has staunchly defended the government’s handling of Woodside’s North West Shelf extension proposal, indicating any delay was the responsibility of the WA government.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek deferred a ruling on the 50-year extension to the mega-project last month despite mounting pressure from business lobby groups to make a decision before the upcoming federal election.
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The delay also saw the minister field criticism from her WA counterparts, with Environment Minister Reece Whitby pinning the blame on “nerdy little bureaucrats in Canberra”.
But Wong pointed out the federal government had the application for all of seven weeks, while the WA government had it for six years — a fact she revealed she had double-checked in preparation for this morning’s interview at Crown Perth.
She reiterated the government understood how important the resources sector was to WA, but said that the application had to navigate the appropriate process.
Wong refused to be drawn on whether a decision on the hub off the Burrup Peninsula in WA’s north-west would be made before the federal election, which must be held on or before May 17.
She also downplayed suggestions sections of the press, including media mogul Kerry Stokes’ Seven West Media, wielded significant power when it came to placing pressure on the government to take action.
“I think ministers should exercise their statutory roles in a principled, considered way,” she said.
“And I’m sure Minister Plibersek will do that.”
The project, which is expected to generate 4.3 billion tonnes of emissions over its lifespan, would clear the way for its contentious $30 billion Browse gas project.
The comments come just months after the Albanese government put its promised overhaul of environment laws on ice amid persistent opposition from the state’s mining industry, which received the backing of Premier Roger Cook.
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