Good morning. The potentially disastrous effects of a massive gas development have sparked a legal challenge from environmentalists. And questions are being raised over the process that landed a former deputy premier a plum $500,000-a-year role as trade commissioner.
An environmental group has launched a legal bid to halt a $16bn gas development in WA, arguing the effect of its greenhouse gas emissions on the Great Barrier Reef will be significant and should be assessed under national environment law. Researchers at Climate Analytics have estimated that gas from Woodside’s Scarborough gas project could lead to 1.37bn tonnes of carbon dioxide – more than three times Australia’s annual emissions – being released into the atmosphere over 25 years.
