Supreme Court of Western Australia throws out case in full

On Thursday 23 July 2026, the Supreme Court of Western Australia dismissed Woodside’s case in full. The action related to a 2023 climate protest.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific described the lawsuit as a “fishing expedition” linked to that protest. According to the ruling, Woodside did not establish that it might have a cause of action against an unknown party involved in the demonstration.

Campaigners held the protest in 2023 to draw attention to what they described as the harmful effects of Woodside’s gas expansion on climate and cultural heritage. Greenpeace Australia Pacific welcomed the decision as a win for people opposing drilling at Scott Reef.

David Ritter, chief executive of Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “Greenpeace welcomes the news that this case has been dismissed. Woodside’s use of a SLAPP suit of this kind is a grotesque attempt to use legal tactics to silence people. There should be no place for SLAPP suits in Australian democracy.”

More than 50 Scott Reef wells

Meanwhile, public opposition to Woodside’s Scott Reef project continues to grow. Greenpeace says the company plans to drill more than 50 gas wells at the reef.

A petition urging the federal government and the WA government to save Scott Reef has more than 552,000 signatures. Greenpeace cites that total as evidence of mounting resistance.

Ritter said Woodside’s plans were “large and growing” in the Australian community. He also argued that drilling at Scott Reef would threaten turtles, whales, the ocean and the climate.

Greenpeace used the case to highlight SLAPP actions. The term means Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, a tactic critics say corporations use to burden opponents with legal costs and pressure them to abandon advocacy or protests.