AUST: GAS SECTOR WINS ANOTHER LEGAL VICTORY Colin Packham A...

AUST:
GAS SECTOR WINS ANOTHER LEGAL VICTORY
Colin Packham
A legal challenge against the preliminary environmental approvals given to Woodside’s $16.5bn Scarborough LNG development will be dismissed in the latest win for the gas industry against environmentalists that have looked to use the courts to block developments.
The cessation, which removes the immediate threat to the project, implies environmentalists are now wary of using the courts to challenge LNG developments after a victory by Santos and its forceful claim for compensation is seen to have set a legal precedent.
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The threat of financial damages is seen by Australia’s gas industry as a key catalyst for the decision by the ACF to agree to the dismissal. The EDO was acting as legal counsel for the ACF.
MST Marquee energy analyst Saul Kavonic said the Santos ruling would have heightened the threat facing the ACF.
“The ACF and EDO’s green lawfare on this case was always a longshot, with nowhere near the chance of success compared to recent other green litigation pursued over environmental approvals, which ultimately failed,” he said.
The ACF said it elected to end its challenge against Woodside’s approval after determining it would likely be unsuccessful.