New federal environment minister Murray Watt on Wednesday approved fossil fuel giant Woodside's proposal to extend its North West Shelf project on the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia.
The approval, which allows Woodside to extend the project's life from 2030 to 2070, is subject to strict conditions on the impact of air emission levels from the expanded onshore gas plant at Karratha.
The Burrup Peninsula in WA's northwest, known as Murujuga to traditional owners, contains the world's largest and oldest collection of petroglyphs.
Experts have raised concern about the impact of industrial pollution on preserving the rock art.
Mardathoonera woman Raelene Cooper launched Federal Court action last week to compel Senator Watt to make a determination on her application to protect Murujuga rock art from industrial development.
"See you in court," she said in response to Wednesday's decision.
"I'm not on my own, I'm bringing warriors from this ngurra (country) with me."
Woodside has 10 business days to respond to the proposed decision and Senator Watt said he would consider the response before a final decision was made.
The impact of air emissions on the Murujuga rock art that forms part of the Dampier Archipelago was considered as part of the assessment process, he said.
"I have ensured that adequate protection for the rock art is central to my proposed decision," he said.
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe said Senator Watt's decision "could ignite a climate bomb" and destroy sacred sites.
She said the minister hadn't consulted traditional custodians and had ignored Ms Cooper's heritage protection application, lodged three years ago.
"Choosing Reconciliation Week to push through this decision, while sidelining First Peoples, is not just disrespectful - it's disgraceful," she said.
Woodside chief operating officer Liz Westcott said the proposed approval would provide certainty for the project, and secure thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
The company was reviewing the proposed conditions relating to cultural heritage management and air quality and "we recognise the significance of these matters".
"We remain committed to protecting the Murujuga Cultural Landscape and support its World Heritage nomination," Ms Westcott said.
The decision came after the release of a report indicating the United Nations is set to reject Australia's bid to add the Murujuga rock art to the World Heritage list.
Its integrity was "vulnerable due to industrial emissions, considered the majorly adversely affecting factor for the petroglyphs", the International Council on Monuments and Sites said in its report to UNESCO.
An agenda for UNESCO's meeting in July shows the draft decision is set to be deferred and the nomination sent back to the Australian government to address the risks to World Heritage values, including "the total removal of degrading acidic emissions currently impacting upon the petroglyphs".
Australian Conservation Foundation climate campaigner Piper Rollins said the report "clearly identified" the North West Shelf gas hub as the primary risk to the rock art.
"UNESCO is essentially saying to the Albanese government: you can't have your cake and eat it. You are going to have to choose between World Heritage or Woodside's toxic gas extension," she said.
Greens environment spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said the minister "has just approved the trashing of our environment".
"The first act of this new government is to trash climate credibility with this huge pollution bomb," Senator Hanson-Young said.
Greenpeace Australia chief executive David Ritter said Senator Watt's "terrible decision" brought Woodside's destructive gas drills one step closer to Scott Reef, a marine ecosystem home to threatened species like pygmy blue whales and green sea turtles.
Australia Institute research director Rod Campbell said the government had missed an opportunity to lead the world and start Australia's journey to real zero emissions.
"The government has opted, once again, to put big gas ahead of Australians," he said.
"For a government re-elected to take meaningful action on climate change, expanding the nation's biggest fossil fuel project is a dreadful way to kick off its second term."
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