Opposition centres on plans for more than 50 gas wells

Woodside’s revived litigation over a 2023 climate protest has drawn fresh criticism as opposition to its Scott Reef drilling plan grows.

The case involves Western Australian community members and is before the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

According to Greenpeace Australia Pacific, the legal action relates to a three-year-old protest over the harmful effects of Woodside’s gas expansion on climate and cultural heritage.

The dispute comes as Woodside faces mounting public opposition to plans to drill more than 50 gas wells at Scott Reef.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific condemned the move on Thursday 9 July 2026 and described it as an attempt to silence and intimidate critics.

David Ritter criticism

David Ritter, chief executive of Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “In the face of growing opposition to Woodside’s plans to drill over 50 gas wells at Scott Reef, this smacks of Woodside trying to intimidate and bully everyday Australians into submission.”

Ritter argued that the community would keep speaking out against drilling at Scott Reef despite the court action.

He described Scott Reef as a pristine site and warned that drilling there could put turtles, whales, oceans and the climate at risk.

Greenpeace also linked the case to what it called a wider pattern of companies using courts against protest movements.

Ritter said: “This SLAPP suit is part of an alarming global trend of corporate bullies using bad-faith legal tactics to intimidate and silence people exercising their democratic right to protest.”

SLAPP stands for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, a tactic used to burden critics with heavy legal costs until they drop protest or advocacy.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace said companies such as Woodside should not use the courts to suppress public participation.

Ritter also pointed to Western Australia’s history of civil protest, arguing that public action helped secure rights and protections that are now widely valued.

He referred to whale protection in Western Australia as an example of change won through protest.

Greenpeace framed the litigation as part of a broader fight over whether people can oppose major oil and gas projects without facing corporate intimidation.

The organisation’s statement was issued from Sydney on Thursday 9 July 2026.