Dutton’s ‘moronic’ NW Shelf pledge raises legal risk, says government (20 Mar 2025)
Article summary: Resources Minister Madeleine King has slammed Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s promise to fast-track approval for the North West Shelf gas expansion, calling it “reckless and moronic” as it could expose the project to legal challenges.
She argued that bypassing due process would invite claims of apprehended bias, citing Scott Morrison’s 2022 election-eve veto of the PEP-11 gas project, which was later overturned. King accused Dutton of aiding Greens and environmental activists by making the approval process legally vulnerable.
Dutton, campaigning in the Western Australian seat of Curtin—won by teal independent Kate Chaney in 2022—dismissed Labor’s objections. He claimed Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek was stalling approval for political gain rather than environmental concerns. Dutton asserted that WA’s Labor government had already cleared the project environmentally, proving its viability. He promised a final decision within 30 days if elected and accused Chaney of prioritising Green votes over mining jobs.
Chaney rejected Dutton’s characterisation of her stance, saying: “In a move that’s straight out of the Trump playbook, Peter Dutton wants to override approval processes and proper scrutiny. We have approval processes for a reason, and we need to protect their integrity, without political interference.”
She also questioned whether a national interest test would even favour approval, adding: “It’s unclear whether a national interest test would result in approval of the North West Shelf anyway. The truth is, the North West Shelf extension won’t lower gas prices in WA or improve local supply because 90 per cent of this gas is exported.”
Related article: Australia's Energy Future is Already Here - October 2024
