The revelations follow questions to the offshore regulator NOPSEMA at Senate Estimates overnight.

Comments attributable to Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter:

“Companies with oil and gas rigs are required to have environmental management plans. These are a critical part of our regulatory framework and require developers to explain how their actions might impact our precious natural environment.

“Under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2023 the plans must be revised every 5 years so that changes to these risks can be properly scrutinised.

“Greenpeace Australia Pacific is concerned to learn that Woodside is in breach of these important environmental laws.

“Woodside’s legacy of toxic spills, accidents, and leaving oil and gas infrastructure rusting in the ocean despite orders from Australian authorities, shows that the company can’t be trusted when it comes to protecting our environment.

“Woodside’s operations are continuing at three facilities despite their last environment plans being accepted over five years ago, and revised environment plans not having been submitted for consideration by NOPSEMA. These include:

• the Macedon operations which was due to have a revised environment plan submitted to NOPSEMA by about 15/10/2023;
• the Vincent Maersk Ngujima-Yin FPSO operations on which the environment plan was due to be submitted by about 28/11/2023; and
• the Pyrenees facility operations which was due to have a revised environment plan submitted by about 3/1/2024.

“NOPSEMA confirmed in Senate Estimates that it issued an informal extension to Woodside on these environment plans, but that doesn’t go far enough.

“Greenpeace Australia Pacific is now urging NOPSEMA to exercise its powers to issue a directions notice to Woodside to force compliance with the requirement to submit revised environment plans.

“Ahead of an expected decision from the Federal Environment Minister concerning Woodside Energy’s climate-wrecking Burrup Hub project – the most polluting fossil fuel project currently proposed in Australia – we urge the Minister to take note of these concerns.

“Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, is reviewing Woodside’s plans to exploit the Browse gas field – a key part of the Burrup Hub project. This would require drilling up to 50 wells around Scott Reef, Australia’s largest stand-alone coral reef atoll and a vital habitat for pygmy blue whales and green sea turtles. The project would also require building a 900km-long pipeline through two marine parks.

“A decision to rule out Woodside’s Burrup Hub is a decision to save Scott Reef and prevent untold environmental harm.”

Greenpeace’s report into the potential risks of Woodside’s Burrup Hub project is here.

Images of the stunning, pristine Scott Reef are available for hi-res download here. Additional photos and materials can be made available on request.

—ENDS—

Violette Snow

Green Guardian

“I decided to get involved with Greenpeace after I started meeting people who were working there and they talked about how much they loved it and the brilliant campaigns they were working on – like REenergise which got over 20 of Australia’s biggest companies to switch to 100% renewable electricity by 2025.”

“As a Greenpeace staff member, the brilliant people I work alongside inspired my decision to leave a gift in my will. The passionate volunteers and staff who work tirelessly to stand up to powerful interests in industry and government to protect the environment. These wonderful people are not just passionate, they are fiercely independent, humble and full of heart.”

“I’m still fairly young, so this was my first will and I was surprised how easy it was! I don’t have much to gift yet, but we just bought our first home and it seemed like a good idea to just get something down on paper.”

John Collingridge

Green Guardian

“During the gift that is this life, I have been awed at the majesty and beauty of landscapes, trees, oceans and sea shores; marvelled at the variety and wonder of all the companion creatures who I have had the privilege to observe; and, over time, become aware, that our fellow creatures, especially mammals, share very much of the feelings and the needs that we, as humans, do.”

“So, when my time is up, with part of what I have been lucky enough to “own”, I wanted to contribute toward the conservation of our beautiful planet, now so badly hurting in so many ways as a result of insensitivity and greed of human actions, and to contribute toward the protection and survival of many of our fellow creatures who have now been pushed to the brink of extinction. I dearly hope that my small contribution may avert extinction of all and any, and that these unique companions may remain in our company and on this planet. I am part of this planet: when / see her hurt, I feel her pain: I am often literally moved to tears to see what is happening to her.”

Caroline McDaid

Green Guardian

“I have vivid memories of completing a school project at age 10 on environmental threats and using Greenpeace as a source of information and inspiration. Some of these battles have been won which gives me great courage about the fight to address climate change that we have on our hands right now.”

“While I have children that need to be a focus in my will, I think it’s important to think more broadly about the legacy I’m leaving behind. Greenpeace perfectly aligns with my values and what is important to me and my family. I am happy that Greenpeace is now reflected in my will.”

Denise Aldous

Green Guardian

“My decision to include Greenpeace in my will is a very personal one. My late mother was a pretty strident opponent of so-called “scientific whaling” and my recently passed brother donated regularly to Greenpeace to support their work in protecting the Great Barrier Reef. It is in their names that I took over my brother’s monthly donations and then made provision for Greenpeace in my will.”

“As I watch with ever growing alarm at what we are doing to our wonderful planet and see pristine environments disappear along with the biodiversity of plant and animal life, I have to believe that as individuals we just have to make an effort to support organisations like Greenpeace. We cannot do it alone but collectively we can make a difference. That is my hope.”

Harry Johnson

Green Guardian

“From my early twenties I saw Greenpeace to be a unique environmental organisation as Greenpeace only accepts donations from individuals. Greenpeace accepts no donations from powerful business interests or from governments. Few people, other than Greenpeace supporters, appear to realise how this unique feature differentiates Greenpeace from other worthy environmental groups.”

“If you value your children and grandchildren and the natural world as much as you value yourself, you can easily gift an amount or a percentage of your estate in your will to Greenpeace. Thus your legacy will benefit your young grandchildren, those generations that will follow them and the world’s plant and animal species, since none of these people who are dear to you as well as the world’s other species have a vote in their future. Changing your will in this way is a very easy step to take to ensure a more sustainable future world.”

Louise Tarrant

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Board (Chair)

Louise Tarrant is a passionate advocate for a green peace. One where life is fairer for people and gentler on the earth. She understands that wishful thinking however is insufficient. In a past life as a unionist she saw the need for workers to collectivise and to campaign for respect and a fair share.

Now it’s everybody’s turn to stand together to redress the harms of the fossil fuel order so we might give humanity and our planet a chance of a vibrant, healthy, flourishing and peace filled future. Greenpeace as a global campaigning organisation has the reach, the commitment, the capacity and the ambition to be a key part of this struggle.

Louise is also Chair of Australia reMADE a civic society organisation that seeks to create new thinking around a repurposed state, more circumscribed corporations and an active citizenry.

Mick Dodson AM

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Board Member

Mick Dodson AM is a former Australian of the year, Yawuru man, barrister, activist and professor. He is best known for his campaigns as a lawyer to secure and improve the legal rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly in relation to land and native title rights.

This work led to Mick being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2003 for services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and being named Australian of the Year in 2009.

Mick became the first Indigenous barrister to join the Victorian Bar in 1981. Since then he has served as the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. He has served as a Director of the Northern Land Council and as counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Mick was also a member of the United Nations Permanent Forum as a member for the Pacific Region and served on the board of trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations.