Protestors put LNG precinct on agenda

As Woodside Petroleum shareholders arrived for April 19’s annual meeting they received a Hollywood-style reception from a small band of environmental protesters.

Shareholders were ushered on to a red carpet and cheered loudly as they walked into the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre through a balloon covered archway bearing the message, “Welcome! Woodside shareholders helping to protect the Kimberley”.

Ditties from Dirty Dancing and Beatles classics such as I am the Walrus accompanied cheers from the 30-plus protesters.

Wilderness Society staff pulled shareholders aside to explain why Woodside’s proposed $30 billion James Price Point LNG project to process gas from the Browse Basin for export would destroy part of the Kimberley coastline.

Wilderness Society Kimberley community campaigner Jenita Enevoldsen said it was about putting doubt in shareholders’ minds. “They are the ones who will ultimately make the decision on Browse,” she said.

Inside, the society’s WA spokeswoman Renae Williams asked the board why Woodside was denying delays were hampering Browse.

She said clearing of the development site had been held up by legal action and wet weather.

But Woodside chief executive Don Voelte said after the meeting much of what the nongovernment organisations had asserted about the Browse project was “plain, flat false”.

He said the idea “NGOs had held us up is garbage” and the project was “going at lightning speed but we promise not to cut corners”.

Meanwhile protesters also gathered in Broome where Gas Free Kimberley’s Nik Wevers called on traditional owners – due to make a decision on the proposed LNG precinct – to remember their decision would affect all people in the Kimberley.