Environment Minister Murray Watt says he won’t delay decision on North West Shelf extension

New Environment Minister Murray Watt has vowed to make a decision on the extension of the mammoth North West Shelf project within a fortnight, and not delay it again.

Woodside and partners have been waiting on a Federal approval to extend the life of the North West Shelf project out to 2070, after the WA Government took more than six years for its assessment.

A Commonwealth decision originally due in February was twice delayed, pushing it beyond the election period, but Senator Watt said he expected to be fully briefed on the project within days.

He intends to make a final decision “within the current timeframe” and stick to the May 31 deadline.

“I recognise this has been a long-running application and concern, and I’m keen to stick to the existing timetable,” he told The West Australian.

Previous minister Tanya Plibersek and the Prime Minister were careful not to pre-judge the projects, mindful of the likelihood of legal challenges whichever way the decision goes.

Senator Watt acknowledged he had to be careful in what he said for the same reasons.

“The environmental law is a contested space. This won’t be the only decision I make that will make some people happy and some people unhappy, but that’s the role,” he said.

“I know that there are very strong views about this proposal on all sides of the debate, but my job is to make the decision in accordance with the law.”