Three activists against gas stormed the stage during a breakfast for the resources industry sector in Perth yesterday, leading to chaos moments before the commencement of a speech by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese.
This took place at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA meeting when the protesters stormed the stage, raising voices to those attending the function.
Video footage showed the security personnel seizing one of the protesters by the jacket, then pushing him out of the stage area.
While some of those at the event watched the unfolding scene, others continued with their business.
Prominent personalities at the function include Premier Roger Cook of Western Australia and Woodside chief executive Liz Westcott.
This follows last week when climate change activists interrupted Woodside’s annual general meeting in Perth, where one protester stormed the stage when Liz Westcott, newly appointed CEO of Woodside, was addressing the event.
The Prime Minister used the occasion to announce $1.1 billion for road infrastructure associated with the new container port at Kwinana, Westport.
The investment will fund upgrades to Anketell Road including widening to four lanes in some sections and a new flyover at Rockingham Road to take heavy trucks off residential streets.
Additionally, there will be a contribution of $45 million to expedite the environmental approval processes for housing and energy projects.
As per the plan, state and territorial governments, which enter into new assessment agreements with the Commonwealth government, would have the authority to assess and approve any proposals on behalf of the federal government.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the time it takes the federal government to approve proposals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act rose from 48 weeks twenty years ago to 118 weeks currently.
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Protesters participation in the breakfast event was an indication of an underlying issue regarding how the federal government deals with the fossil fuel industry.
According to statement released that morning, it urged Albanese not to yield to pressures from industry leaders to withdraw a proposed gas export tax.
In particular, Greenpeace referred to an anticipated dramatic reduction of WA gas royalties in the coming years; a reduction of 88% is projected to take place by 2029, from $1.37 billion to $167 million.
The disruption on Wednesday is unlikely to deter the government from courting the resources sector ahead of the May 12 federal budget.
It underscored the growing frustration among climate campaigners who see the Prime Minister’s appearances alongside fossil fuel executives as incompatible with Australia’s commitments to reduce emissions.
