Kimberley plan to test Greens alliance

Paddy Manning September 18, 2010

WOODSIDE'S controversial $30 billion proposed gas hub at James Price Point on Western Australia's Kimberley Coast will be the first real test of the partnership between the Greens and the minority Labor government, the businessman Geoff Cousins, who is campaigning against the project, says.

The Greens have agreed to ensure supply and confidence in the Gillard government but Mr Cousins said they would have to abandon the partnership if the government approved the massive liquefied natural gas facility at James Price Point.

''They couldn't have credibility and say, 'We oppose it, but we don't really care if the federal environment minister goes ahead and approves it,' '' Mr Cousins said.



All the photos in this footage were gather over the whale season of 2010 and were taken within the exact vicinity of the proposed world largest LNG precinct in the world, between Quondong and James Price Point.

For more information on Kimberley Whales go to" http://www.kimberleywhales.com.au Kimberley_Whale_Watching,_Broome,_Western_Australia.html

Mr Cousins said while the Greens might compromise with the government on the proposed Minerals Resource Rent Tax, for example, saving the Kimberley Coast from such an inappropriate LNG development was a core environment issue.

''With a leader like Bob Brown, on an issue like this, they would have to do whatever they need to do in order to change the government. I don't see how they could remain in a partnership with Labor, if Labor sought to approve a project of this kind.

''They would have to walk away from the partnership.''

James Price Point is the West Australian government's preferred site for the proposed hub, which would process liquefied natural gas from the Browse Basin.


This month the Premier, Colin Barnett, announced he would move to compulsorily acquire the land after the breakdown of extended negotiations with indigenous groups including the Kimberley Land Council (KLC), which last year struck an in-principle deal to support the project.

But the agreement unravelled amid division in the indigenous community. The Aboriginal law man Joseph Roe has lodged a native title claim over the land and is suing the land council in the Federal Court.

Mr Roe's case was dismissed by the court last month for a lack of legal standing, but he is seeking leave to appeal. His allegations could form the basis of a challenge to the Premier's compulsory acquisition process.

The new federal environment minister, Tony Burke, has final say over the James Price Point project, which requires approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

The site is part of a strategic assessment of heritage values as a precursor to possible inclusion on the national heritage list.

A number of environmental groups held initial briefings with Mr Burke this week and it is understood the James Price Point development was a key issue.

An Australian Conservation Foundation campaigner, Denise Boyd, said the group asked Mr Burke to commence the West Kimberley heritage listing within 30 days, raised the issue of compulsory acquisition and asked for consideration of alternatives such as offshore processing or a pipeline to an existing plant at Karratha.

Mr Cousins, a Telstra director who was formerly Optus Vision chief executive, ran a high-profile campaign against the forestry company Gunns's proposed $2.2 billion pulp mill at Bell Bay, in the Tamar Valley in Tasmania.

Siding with Mr Roe, he said he predicted there would be a similar Gunns-style campaign targeting Woodside and its shareholders and joint venture partners including Shell, Chevron, BHP and BP if a political resolution could not be found.