Protests against gas shelf extension

ACT climate activists yesterday joined a nationwide day of protest, rallying outside the offices of four federal Labor representatives to condemn the Federal Government’s conditional approval to extend Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project from 2030 to 2070.

As his first major decision in the rôle, environment minister Murray Watt MP approved the extension of the gas plant, which was due to close in 2030, the ABC reported. The North West Shelf is Australia’s third-largest emitter, generating around 6 million tonnes of greenhouse gases every year; its total lifetime emissions could equal a decade’s worth of Australia’s current national emissions, potentially delaying climate goals by a decade. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP said the gas was needed to support Western Australia’s renewable energy transition, with 15 per cent designated for the domestic market.

“The Labor government knows that carbon emissions drive the increasing frequency and impacts of floods, fires, droughts and rising seas already drowning our Pacific neighbours’ islands,” Dr Simon Copland, executive director of the Conservation Council ACT Region, which organised the protest, said.

“It has been made very clear that there must be no more fossil fuel projects, including extensions. We have enough for the transition, the Prime Minister saying otherwise, is disingenuous. This decision lands as communities in NSW are seeing their homes, businesses, towns go under water: it is outrageous and heartbreaking.”

Demonstrators visited the offices of David Smith MP, Senator Katy Gallagher, Dr Andrew Leigh MP, and Alicia Payne MP to deliver letters urging the politicians to publicly oppose Minister Watt’s decision.

“We know Canberrans do not want more dirty fossil fuel developments, and all we were doing was asking MPs to stand up for our community values,” Dr Copland said. “Unfortunately, no politicians were willing to come out and meet us, but we did manage to deliver the letters. At one point there was even a constituent walking in who didn’t know about the protest and was willing to deliver the letter for us!”

The Federal Labor ACT representatives defended the decision, stating that Minister Watt’s decision followed rigorous scientific advice and was subject to strict conditions, concerning air emissions from the Karratha facility. Minister Watt could only consider a limited range of issues when making the decision, specifically how the project might affect the Murujuga rock art; the decision followed the legal requirements. Greenhouse gas emissions are managed under separate laws, such as the Safeguard Mechanism; this requires major polluters, like the North West Shelf gas plant, to start cutting their emissions and reach net zero by 2050. Woodside can now respond to the proposed decision; after reviewing their response, Minister Watt will make a final ruling.

“Our Government remains firmly committed to action on climate change,” the politicians said. “We have taken strong action in our first term and will continue that work now. […] As the Prime Minister said recently, we need to make sure that there is security of energy supply as we transition to renewables. Only Labor has a concrete, real plan to get there.”

The Conservation Council ACT is not satisfied with the response.

“The Government cannot claim to be committed to action on climate change, while at the same time expanding a dirty fossil fuel project to 2070 — this is 20 years later than we need to get net zero carbon emissions!” Dr Copland said.

“The Government likes to hide behind the scope of the EPBC Act. The reality is, however, that the EPBC Act has measures that are broad enough that would have allowed the Government to reject this decision. Even if it wasn’t, the Government has been in power for three years now and has still failed to improve the legislation. When in opposition, for example, Anthony Albanese personally introduced legislation to add a climate trigger to our environmental laws. Now, when he has the power to do so, he refuses to reintroduce similar legislation. It seems like he has been completely captured by the fossil fuel industry, and we are all paying the price.

“The Government cannot be taken seriously on climate change while still approving coal and gas mines and extensions. Enough is enough. No new coal and gas!”

The ACT Greens have also condemned Minister Watt’s decision. Party leader Shane Rattenbury MLA said: “The fact that so many groups and individuals are standing up and speaking out demonstrates the gravity of this decision and what it means for Australia’s climate future. People are rightly angry and feel let down that Labor has made such an environmentally destructive decision as one of their first moves in this term of Government.

“In extending the lifespan of the North West Shelf project, Labor has killed the prospect of achieving net zero by 2050 and jeopardised any chance of the Murujuga rock art being listed as a World Heritage site.

“The North West Shelf project will release more pollution each year than all of Australia’s coal stations combined and run for 45 more years. This is a reckless move by the Labor Government that will accelerate the real and dangerous impacts of climate change, and Canberrans are not immune to those impacts.”

ACT Budget: Young women in construction

The ACT Government will invest $1.4 million over four years in the 2025–26 budget to expand its Women in Construction – Try-a-Trade program in ACT public schools.

Starting in 2026–27, the program will double its reach to 10 public schools, offering a curriculum-based elective for up to 2,000 Year 8 students every year, and structured work placements for 220 Year 9 to 10 students.

Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry MLA said the expanded program would give girls the skills, mentorship, and industry exposure to pursue a career in construction, while building a workforce that better reflects the community.

Treasurer Chris Steel MLA said the program supported both Labor’s election commitment to provide more job opportunities in construction for young women and the ACT’s housing and infrastructure agenda, including the goal of 30,000 new homes by 2030.

Michael Pettersson MLA, Minister for Skills, Training and Industrial Relations, described the program as a smart investment in both equity and economic growth, giving students direct exposure to worksites and clear pathways to apprenticeships.

The Master Builders ACT said that funding for women in construction was a welcome boost.

CEO Anna Neelagama said that attracting more young women was essential to addressing critical labour shortages. Women make up 13.6 per cent of Australia’s construction industry workforce, and only 3.7 per cent are working ‘on the tools’. The number of young people entering building and construction apprenticeships is falling short of demand.

“To reverse this, we need to do more to promote the value of Australian apprenticeship pathways to young people,” Ms Neelagama said. “We need to give young women access to unbiased careers education and information. We also need to remove the bias towards higher education so that young women have the same opportunities to pursue trade apprenticeships as their male counterparts.”

The Canberra Liberals were sceptical, fearing that the announcement would fail before it had started, party leader Leanne Castley MLA said. “After all, how will young Canberrans who want to work in construction get a placement if there is no one building houses and units in Canberra? While welcomed, this announcement is nothing but a bandaid on a bullet wound. The Labor Government’s election promise to build an extra 30,000 homes by 2030 is nothing more than a pipedream. And it’s this failure to deliver on their promise that means Canberrans will continue to struggle with soaring housing and rental costs.”

Bikie gangs in construction?

The Canberra Liberals have demanded answers from the ACT Government following claims that outlaw motorcycle gangs are profiting from taxpayer-funded construction projects.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported last week that the Finks bikie gang was exploiting the ACT’s lack of anti-consorting laws. “Canberra has become a safe haven for bikies… It’s literally happening under the government’s nose, but nothing is being done,” a gang associate told the newspaper.

Deborah Morris MLA, shadow minister for police, emergency services and community safety, wrote to treasurer and planning minister Chris Steel MLA and to police minister Dr Marisa Paterson MLA to confirm whether “outlaw bikie gangs are effectively being sponsored by the Government”.

Ms Morris, who tried to introduce anti-consorting laws earlier this year, claimed that Labor “support[ed] the rights of outlaw bikie gangs to make money over the safety of Canberra residents”.

“Now we see that outlaw bikie gangs are getting taxpayer money for working on infrastructure projects, with the full knowledge of the ACT government, while the ACT police are pretty much powerless to do anything,” she said.

In response, an ACT Government spokesperson said the company referenced in the SMH article had no direct contractual relationship with the government and no known presence on Light Rail Stage 2A. The company had been engaged as a subcontractor on the Raising London Circuit project; its staff was reduced from seven to one.

“Allegations of links between organised crime and the construction industry are not unique to the ACT, and they have been the subject of reporting across the country in the past year,” the spokesperson said. “Complaints about individual companies are dealt with by the ACT Government as they arise, as is the case in every Australian jurisdiction.”

The ACT Government considers reputational risk when awarding tenders, including media reports about a company’s behaviour, the spokesperson said. The secure local jobs code and the labour hire licensing act also regulate ethical conduct on Government sites.

The government has asked Infrastructure Canberra to review recent media coverage and advise whether any further action is needed under existing procurement and licensing frameworks.

Environmental grants

Applications are open for the 2025–26 ACT Environmental Grants Program, which offers $360,000 for community groups, volunteers and citizen scientists to protect and restore the ACT’s natural environment.

The funding is in two streams: Environment Grants of up to $35,000 for biodiversity and landscape restoration projects, and Environmental Volunteer Group Assistance Grants of up to $5,000 to support volunteer environmental groups.

Launching the grants on World Environment Day, Suzanne Orr MLA, minister for climate action, environment, energy and water, said: “The ACT Government deeply values the tireless work of community groups, environmental volunteers and citizen scientists who are restoring bushland, enhancing biodiversity and helping to make Canberra a more liveable, sustainable city.”

The grants support conservation outcomes, and deliver social and educational benefits, Ms Orr said: they empower local communities and connect people to nature.

“If you’re part of a local group with a great idea to care for our environment, I encourage you to apply.”

Now in its 29th year, the program has backed hundreds of local initiatives. Past recipients include the Friends of Magpie Hill, who used funding to train their volunteers how to identify plants and birds, better understand native plants, and focus their regeneration efforts. Merici College students used a grant to plant 600 native species to restore a grassy woodland corridor.

Applications close on Wednesday 17 July. For more information, visit www.act.gov.au/money-and-tax/grants-funding-and-incentives.