MEDIA RELEASE: Federal Court Hearing: Doctors for the Environment Australia v NOPSEMA and Woodside
Doctors for the Environment Australia
10 July 2025
Federal Court Hearing – July 14-15
What: Two days of legal argument regarding validity of The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority’s (NOPSEMA) acceptance of the Environmental Plan for Woodside’s Scarborough Gas Project
When: From 10:15am, Monday and Tuesday, July 14 and 15
Where: Court No. (TBA), Federal Court of Australia, 305 William St, Melbourne
Who: Applicant — Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA)
Respondents — NOPSEMA and Woodside Energy
Presiding Judge — Hon Justice Shaun McElwaine
Case name: Doctors for the Environment (Australia) Incorporated v National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority & Anor
Case number: VID527/2025
Video streaming: [Link to come]
Background
The Federal Court will hear arguments next week regarding the validity of NOPSEMA’s acceptance of Woodside’s Production Environment Plan (EP) for its Scarborough Gas Project.
Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) initiated legal proceedings in April, challenging the national offshore oil and gas regulator’s decision to accept the Environment Plan that Woodside had submitted.
On June 6, the Federal Court made a maximum costs order, limiting the amount that NOPSEMA and Woodside could recover in legal costs if DEA’s case were unsuccessful to $80,000. This enabled DEA to proceed to a hearing.
DEA Executive Director Kate Wylie said:
“DEA believes that NOPSEMA may have acted unlawfully by accepting this EP without fully understanding how the impacts of the Scarborough gas project will be managed.
“Woodside acknowledges that there is uncertainty about whether gas from the Scarborough project will displace even dirtier fuels.
“DEA will contend that Woodside’s proposed controls in this EP are so vague and uncertain that NOPSEMA did not meet its own tests for whether an EP can be approved.
“Controls placed on offshore gas projects are critical in managing impacts on our environment and community.
“We have asked the court to set aside NOPSEMA’s decision.
“DEA has taken this action in the broader context of a global climate emergency, which has profoundly harmful consequences for the health of billions of people around the world.
“The scientific consensus and the advice of the United Nations is that new fossil fuel projects are incompatible with a safe climate and human health.
“Sadly, governments around Australia continue to approve coal and gas projects against such advice.
“In these circumstances, the least our government can do is to ensure such projects are subjected to thorough scrutiny to ensure proposals meet the legal standards enacted by our parliaments.
“If government agencies fail to meet their own legal standards in their assessments, it is incumbent upon civil organisations like DEA to hold them to account.”
CONTACTS
Doctors for the Environment Australia | Media and Communications Lead Carmela Ferraro | 0410 703 074 | [email protected]
Environmental Defenders Office | Media Adviser James Tremain | 0419 272 254 | [email protected]
PREVIOUS MEDIA STATEMENTS
1 May 2025 - Doctors challenge Scarborough gas field Environment Plan approval
6 June 2025 - Doctors for the Environment test case on Woodside’s Scarborough Gas Project to proceed after court grants crucial costs order
BACKGROUND MATERIALS
Report: Fossil Fuels are a Health Hazard
-ENDS-
Contact details:
Doctors for the Environment Australia | Media and Communications Lead Carmela Ferraro | 0410 703 074 | [email protected]
Environmental Defenders Office | Media Adviser James Tremain | 0419 272 254 | [email protected]