A Supreme Court challenge has been initiated against the Western Australian government’s approval of Woodside’s North West Shelf extension, with Friends of Australian Rock Art, Inc. (FARA) lodging proceedings on Thursday, June 12 — the final day of the statutory limitation period for such actions.

The judicial review, served on Friday, June 13, targets the WA Minister for the Environment, Hon Matthew Swinbourn MLC, and Woodside, contesting the environmental approval granted by former Environment Minister Hon Reece Whitby MLA in December 2024.

FARA contends that the state’s assessment process failed to comply with the Environmental Protection Act, particularly by not adequately considering the climate change impacts of the project, including Scope 3 emissions, and the potential effects on the Murujuga rock art landscape — an area recognised for its cultural and archaeological significance.

The proceedings argue that the state’s decision should be overturned due to procedural shortcomings in the environmental assessment.

FARA claims the assessment did not address the full extent of carbon emissions and their consequences, nor did it sufficiently evaluate threats to the Murujuga rock art, which is described as the largest and oldest rock art collection in the world and regarded as having Outstanding Universal Value.

Judith Hugo, co-convenor of Friends of Australian Rock Art, said the group has launched Supreme Court proceedings to challenge the WA government’s approval of Woodside’s North West Shelf extension, arguing the project is highly polluting and threatens both the Murujuga rock art and Western Australia’s environment.

Hugo stated that despite FARA’s efforts to have these impacts properly assessed, the Minister approved the project without adequate consideration of its environmental consequences, prompting the legal action to ensure these issues are fully examined under the Environmental Protection Act.

The legal challenge could have implications for the project’s pending Commonwealth approval, as the federal process relies on the state’s environmental assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

The North West Shelf extension is a major gas project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region and has been the subject of ongoing debate regarding its environmental and cultural impacts.

A Woodside spokesperson responded, expressing confidence in the robustness of the state government’s approval process, while Minister Swinbourn has been contacted for comment.

The outcome of this Supreme Court challenge may set important precedents for how environmental and cultural heritage impacts are assessed in major resource projects across Australia.