Greenpeace Slams Albanese Government Over 2081 Queensland Gas Wells Approval
Greenpeace Australia Pacific has condemned the Federal Government's decision to greenlight nearly 1,700 new gas wells in Queensland, arguing the project extends fossil fuel reliance decades beyond Australia’s 2050 net-zero targets.
Harry Taruva 
Sydney - The Australian Federal Government has triggered a backlash from environmental advocates after approving an expansion of coal seam gas operations in Queensland’s Surat and Bowen basins.
The decision, which allows Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) to drill 1,695 new gas wells, extends the project’s operational life until 2081, more than three decades after the nation’s committed deadline for reaching net-zero emissions.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific characterized the move as a betrayal of international climate obligations, noting that this is the 36th fossil fuel project sanctioned by the Albanese Government since 2022.
The expansion includes 1,545 kilometers of new pipelines and three processing facilities, which are estimated to generate approximately 120 million tonnes of carbon emissions over the project's lifetime.
"This is first and foremost a betrayal of our climate, flying in the face of commitments Australia has made on the world stage to transition away from fossil fuels," said Solaye Snider, Climate Campaigner at Greenpeace Australia Pacific
"They are bleeding our country dry and burning it at the same time, with the green-light from the government," she said.
The approval has also drawn scrutiny for its immediate environmental cost.
The project area overlaps with critical ecosystems, with federal documents permitting the clearing of up to 853 hectares of koala habitat and 428 hectares of habitat for the Greater Glider, both of which are listed as threatened species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
An Australian government spokesperson defended the decision, stating that the project was approved following rigorous scientific advice and is subject to 126 environmental conditions, including a requirement to reach net-zero operational emissions by 2050 under the Safeguard Mechanism.
Critics however argue that the climate maths do not add up, as the vast majority of the gas, over 75%, is destined for export markets rather than domestic relief.
"While the gas industry uses the war in Iran to scaremonger and price-gouge... the rest of the world is waking up to the fact that fossil fuels are the ultimate liability," Snider added.
The economic justification for the project is also being questioned by Treasury modeling, which predicts that the value of Australia’s coal and gas exports could plummet by 50% over the next five years as global demand shifts toward renewables.
Despite this, APLNG, a joint venture between Origin Energy, ConocoPhillips, and Sinopec, maintains that the expansion is essential to meet existing export contracts and support the east coast's energy stability.
The project still requires final approval from the Queensland Government before construction can begin, which is currently scheduled for later in 2026.
If it proceeds, the wells will represent one of the longest-lived fossil fuel assets in the country, locking in extraction activities well into the late 21st century.
"The Australian government needs to wake up and realise there is no future in fossil fuels," Snider said, adding that "the longer we delay that reality, the further we will be left behind."
