UN special rapporteur can join case against Woodside LNG plant extension, Australian court rules

The Federal Court of Australia ruled that a U.N. Special Reporter can submit submissions to a case challenging the government’s decision to extend Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf LNG Facility for 40 years.

The Australian Conservation Foundation has?brought a case against the Environment Minister Murray Watt’s approval of September on the basis that climate impact was not included in his environmental assessment.

Astrid Riano, U.N. special rapporteur for the Human Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment, requested to be consulted in November. Her advice will be based on the July 2025 opinion of the International Court of Justice, which states that nations who do not take action to protect climate change could be breaking international law.

She will act independently and give advice as a 'friend of court' or amicus curia.

The ACF stated that this is the first time an U.N.?special reporteur has been involved in a legal case in Australia.

The hearings will start in Melbourne on 21 July and last for a week.

Woodside's spokesperson stated that the company opposed Puentes Riano’s application for procedural reasons, stating it was not made on behalf of U.N. The spokesperson added that the federal and state assessment process was "comprehensive" and "extensive".

Piper Rollins, an ACF campaigner, said the court's acceptance of a special rapporteur shows that it accepts the International Court of Justice ruling that "should be considered in relation to North West Shelf."

In recent years, Australia's fossil-fuel?companies faced multiple legal challenges. Santos Barossa's gas field development was delayed due to a legal case that ultimately failed on appeal.

The ACF case is one of three cases brought against the extension granted by Australia's second largest liquefied gas plant.

The?ACF, along with another group, have separately filed legal challenges arguing that Watt's guidelines do not protect Murujuga indigenous rock art which can be up to 50,000-years-old. Helen Clark, Edwina Gibbs and Helen Clark contributed to this report.

(source: Reuters)