Jul 21, 2026 – 8.00pmThe opportunity given to Woodside to effectively negotiate on the conditions for the approval of the North West Shelf extension last year pointed to a ministerial bias towards approving the project, a barrister for the Australian Conservation Foundation told the Federal Court.Angus Scott, KC, said the “extraordinary level of engagement” between environment department officials and Woodside on the conditions attached to the approval by federal Environment Minister Murray Watt went way beyond what is required in environmental legislation.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
NW Shelf approval negotiations hint at bias, Federal Court hears
A high-stakes legal battle began with claims the gas plant extension was green-lit in a way that suggested the environment minister may not have been impartial.
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