Dozens of leaders, including former Labor politicians, are calling on the federal environment minister to stop the proposed extension of a major gas project amid claims it is damaging Aboriginal rock art in northern Western Australia.
Kim Beazley is one of several ex-Labor leaders who signed an open letter calling on Tanya Plibersek to protect rock art on the Burrup Peninsula from industrial emissions.
The carvings form part of a UNESCO World Heritage nomination and national park and it neighbours the vast onshore components of the North West Shelf gas project operated by Woodside.
Whether this has caused long-term degradation of the art is contested.
A proposed expansion and extension of the operation, which would see it continue to work near the Pilbara town of Karratha until 2070, is being assessed by the federal government.
Yindjibarndi elder Tootsie Daniel, who signed the letter, has watched heavy industry spread across the peninsula for decades and wants the Commonwealth to take immediate action.
“Country should be left alone as it is. It’s there for our children, our grandchildren, and future generations,” she said.
“Just listen to us, Tanya. That’s all you’ve got to do.”
The collection of rock art is a well-known Aboriginal heritage site, with an estimated one million carvings scattered across the peninsula, called Murujuga in local language.
The open letter, which has been seen by the ABC, was written by Friends of Australian Rock Art (FARA).
It was signed by former federal leader and WA governor Kim Beazley, former WA premiers Carmen Lawrence and Peter Dowding and other public figures.
The document states the gas proposal should be refused based on the significant amount of carbon it is expected to emit, as well as its role in degrading the rock art.
Former premier says evidence backs protection
The letter said the minister has a “unique responsibility” to protect Australia’s heritage sites, and the area’s World Heritage application was threatened by local industrialisation.
“We hope that we’ve made enough compelling arguments and [asked] enough really significant people to sign on to this letter, to convince her that now is her time to possibly make history by making this decision,” FARA co-convenor Judith Hugo told the ABC.
Former premier Carmen Lawrence said past development on the peninsula was a mistake that jeopardised the future of its World Heritage status.
Dr Lawrence said she appreciated it could be difficult for the government to balance priorities between industry and heritage, but felt the evidence supported refusal of the proposal.
“I know how difficult it is, particularly for an environment and heritage minister, often lined up against the resources ministers and those who would argue this has a major economic impact,” she said.
“The plusses and minuses, I think, very clearly weigh in favour of protection and a refusal for the expansion.”
The science behind whether the emissions are impacting the art is contested, with some studies indicating long-term fading of the rock carvings.
Woodside questions evidence of deterioration
Woodside has undertaken its own assessments and said there was no conclusive evidence connecting this to industry.
The WA government is running a monitoring program until 2026, and a Woodside spokesperson said the company believed this would provide “certainty to guide management and protection of the rock art”.
“Woodside takes its responsibility to protect and manage cultural heritage seriously. We take the necessary steps to manage our impacts, including in response to credible new information,” the spokesperson said.
The official traditional owner representative, Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC), also backed the monitoring program.
Chief executive Kim Wood said the program would investigate “plausible scenarios” associated with air pollution that could degrade the rock engravings.
“MAC’s priority is [to] protect Murujuga’s rock art, heritage, and culture,” he said.
“Data collected from the program … will be used to develop air quality standards to protect the rock art.”
Minister ‘committed’ to protecting heritage
A spokesperson for Tanya Plibersek said, as the legal decision maker on the North West Shelf proposal, she could not comment on the project’s specifics.
The spokesperson said the government was “strongly committed” to protecting Murujuga’s cultural heritage and had achieved more on climate and environment than previous governments.
The minister’s office also pointed to a $2 million grant given to MAC to develop agreements with government and industry.
The state government has previously ruled out future greenfield development on the Burrup Peninsula and added 254 hectares of land to the national park.
