A MULTI‑agency operation has resulted in two men being charged after Greenpeace activists scaled and occupied Woodside’s Scarborough gas project, prompting a temporary shutdown of operations and renewed debate over the company’s Browse proposal.
The Australian Border Force (ABF), WA Police and offshore regulator NOPSEMA confirmed the charges in a joint statement on Monday, following what authorities described as the “unlawful access” of an offshore gas platform located about 200 kilometres off Exmouth.
According to the ABF, the men, aged 48 and 52, were safely removed from the platform and transported to the mainland. They have been charged under section 603 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
Authorities said the incident highlighted the risks posed by unauthorised access to offshore petroleum facilities, which operate in “inherently complex and potentially hazardous environments”.
The enforcement action followed a high‑profile Greenpeace protest on Saturday, when four activists launched from the organisation’s vessel Rainbow Warrior at 05:45 AWST and climbed onto a floating production unit (FPU) at the Scarborough gas field.
The group displayed banners reading “Stop Woodside’s Dirty Gas” and “Save Scott Reef”, and attached themselves to the structure. The FPU confirmed it initiated a temporary shutdown in response.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific chief executive David Ritter said the occupation was aimed at exposing what the organisation sees as unacceptable environmental risks associated with Woodside’s Browse proposal.
“Woodside wants to drill up to 57 toxic wells around Scott Reef, Australia’s largest oceanic reef,” Mr Ritter said. “It is home to nesting green sea turtles, pygmy blue whales and the dusky sea snake — a place like nowhere else on Earth.”
From the platform, Greenpeace activist and medical doctor Chris Holden said the Browse project posed both environmental and public‑health risks, citing the Lancet Countdown report on climate‑related health impacts.
Greenpeace says almost half a million people have signed a petition urging the federal government to reject Browse and protect Scott Reef. The organisation is continuing to publish photos, video and live updates from the Rainbow Warrior and the occupied platform.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, according to the ABF.