Heat on Peter Khalil over North West Shelf Gas approval climate bomb

Angy, frustrated, determined crowd gathered outside Peter Khalil’s office at 11am Monday morning. The new Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt on May 28 provisionally approved Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf Gas Extension to 2070. This is a climate bomb. And the approval of this project is a climate betrayal by the Labor Government, elected with a mandate for Climate Action.

And it isn’t just climate activists saying this is a betrayal. Carmen Lawrence, a former Labor Federal Minister and a former Labor Premier of Western Australia highlighted in an opinion article published May 30, 2025.

“The Albanese government’s approval of the North West Shelf gas extension to 2070 is not just a mistake – it’s a devastating blow; a blow to voters who so recently backed a renewable-powered future, to young Australians hopeful for change, to the traditional owners caring for the Murujuga rock art, and to Labor’s own proud tradition of acting for the benefit of all Australians. Anthony Albanese’s gas project extension is not just a mistake, it’s a betrayal.” – Carmen Lawrence

About 50 people attended. Only one speech was given with an aknowledgement of country and brief details of the implications of the project approval. The Crowd were entertained by some members of the Melbourne Climate Choir with climate songs.

Victoria Police attended, and actually facilitated use of car parking spaces for the crowd to use more space to enable passage on the footpath.

Here is a summary of the issues:

Environment Minister Murray Watt is allowing Woodside to extend its WA gas processing plant until 2070. This is beyond net-zero by 2050 target.

Despite its re-election success the ALP has failed its first climate test. They are complicit with Woodside in wrecking the future for humans and our fellow species. They know that carbon emissions drive the increasing frequency and impacts of floods, fires, droughts and rising seas already drowning our Pacific neighbours’ islands.

State capture by the fossil fuel industry and political cowardice are at the root of approving this project that will:
release up to 4.4 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases
take gas from the Browse basin underneath the pristine Scott Reef
continue to damage sacred rock art at Murujuga
override objections from environmental and indigenous groups
raise Woodside’s profits – Australia gives half its exported gas free to gas companies. It could have taken $111 billion in royalties from 2020 to 2024 from WA alone for renewable energy, climate adaptation, health and education
supply the export market – it’s not for domestic use. Australia already produces sufficient gas for our needs
threaten a unique and important marine ecosystem

Keep in mind that

Natural disasters cost Australia’s economy $2.2bn in first half of 2025, new Treasury analysis shows, according to The Guardian, 1 June 2025. These costs can be expected to keep increasing due to more frequent and intense climate disasters made worse by new projects such as North West Shelf.

Also North West Shelf gas extension will deliver ‘almost nothing’ to Australia’s public purse, The Guardian, 01 June 2025. But the gas is given to these companies which are making a killing for their shareholders.

Vigil to end fossil fuels

A weekly vigil is being proposed outside Peter Khalil’s office. This will be low key starting off with one day a week for a couple of hours.

An initial time of 11am to 1pm on Tuesday has been proposed, with the first occasion being tomorrow, 3rd June.

Why the vigil?

the world has already hit 1.5C of global warming
the largest cause of climate pollution is fossil fuel emissions
the Australian government needs a plan to phase out fossil fuels
instead they are approving extensions of coal and gas mining and development
emissions in Australia actually increased last year
the Federal ALP government has ignored protests and calls for urgent action
we are determined to show that we will not let up on this until there is a clear countdown for fossil fuels, both within Australia and for export
no more fossil fuel approvals and extensions as per what climate science and IEA Energy experts have been saying since 2021

Peter Khalil has a standing invitation as our Federal Representative, to come out and chat on climate issues with his constituents, during the vigil.