The federal government has intervened to halt work on the controversial urea fertiliser plant proposed at Murujuga, in Western Australia's Pilbara region.
Minister for Environment Tanya Plibersek and Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers reached a mutual agreement to stop work on the $4.3billion project for 30-days.
The intervention comes after Murujuga Traditional Custodians and Mardudhunera women, Josie Alec and Raelene Cooper, pushed for the determination of an outstanding Section 9 and Section 10 application.
The applications, that fall under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act (ATSHIPA), would provide a 60-day moratorium on project construction and an assessment into the cultural heritage impacts of the proposed project.
The 30-days will allow time for the applications to be considered and determined.
“We are relieved that Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has intervened to order a temporary pause on works on the Perdaman Fertiliser Plant to consider our appeals,” said Ms Alec.
“However, that is only a short-term stopgap and we have been sidelined and silenced many times before.”
Josie Alec and Raelene Cooper have fought against the Perdaman project since it was proposed. Source: Supplied
Attempting appeal
In response to the news, Murujuga Traditional Custodians have submitted an appeal to the WA Environmental Protection Authority and the state and commonwealth environment ministers.
The appeal seeks to highlight how cultural heritage at the proposed UNSECO site will be impacted by the looming development, which has been given a lifeline to 2070.
The pair presented the appeal in person to the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (WA EPA). It estimates that the remaining rock art in the area will be destroyed by acid gas pollution.
“The way Woodside [Energy] is harming people all around the world from climate pollution is also deeply distressing to our people,” Ms Alec said.
“We know that our knowledge is connected to deep time and we do not accept that the short-term interests of fossil fuel companies are more important than the land and the people who hold this ancient wisdom.
“We will not stand by while our cultural traditions are driven to extinction by Woodside and we will not remain silent so that rich shareholders can profit while cultural genocide is inflicted on our people.”
Ms Alec said that the EPA’s assessment of damage to Murujuga was inadequate.
“The EPA have said there is uncertainty about the impacts and more science is required,” she said.
“For us, there is no uncertainty — we live with these impacts each and every day because we are connected to the Ngurra (Country) in a spiritual way that cannot be fully understood by science."
"Using science to measure impacts to our cultural heritage is like using a microscope to understand the Bible.
“There is nothing uncertain and nothing acceptable about what is happening to our cultural heritage. We have personally witnessed the disintegration and fading of the rock art.
“We don’t need more science to tell us something is wrong on our Ngurra, we need those responsible in government to stop allowing Woodside to destroy it.”
The rock art at Murujuga is believed to be the oldest rock art in the world. Source: AFP
Next steps
Ms Alec and Ms Cooper have lobbied against the development since its inception. In early July, the pair addressed the United Nations in Geneva and yesterday organised a rally in Perth’s CBD.
The pair lobbied the federal government after WA minister for environment Reece Whitby approved the gas project.
Mr Whitby told NITV News on Wednesday that’s a priority that industry “co-exist harmoniously with surrounding cultural heritage”.
Both Ms Plibersek and Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney will meet with the Aboriginal Heritage Alliance at Parliament’s first sitting on July 16.
Ms Cooper (left) and Ms Alex (left) addressing the United Nations. Source: Save our Songlines
