Two arrested after Greenpeace activists occupy Woodside gas platform off WA coast

Protesters scaled the rig early Saturday, disrupting operations at the $12.5 billion Scarborough project

By LineZotpaper

Published18 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources2 outlets

Two Greenpeace activists have been taken into police custody after occupying a Woodside gas platform about 200 kilometres off Western Australia's coast, disrupting operations at the company's Scarborough natural gas project and drawing a response from the Australian Border Force and federal and state agencies.

Two people are in police custody after occupying an offshore Woodside gas platform about 200 kilometres off Western Australia's coast to protest against the company's gas operations. An Australian Border Force (ABF) spokesperson said they were working with federal and state agencies to respond to the situation after activists occupied the rig overnight and disrupted the gas giant's operations.

Images shared by environmental advocacy group Greenpeace Australia Pacific show its activists scaling a Woodside gas platform and hanging a banner in protest of the company's planned gas project at Scott Reef. Greenpeace said four protesters travelled to the platform early Saturday morning, and two of them set up "temporary hanging tents" to occupy the platform for "as long as possible".

On Sunday afternoon Greenpeace said two of its activists had been taken into police custody. "Special police forces landed a helicopter on the [platform] at around 11:30am AWST," Greenpeace said. "The activists safely removed themselves from their equipment before being taken into police custody around 1pm."

Woodside confirmed the protest had disrupted operations at the rig, which forms part of the company's $12.5 billion Scarborough natural gas project. "Pre-commissioning activities at Scarborough have been paused as part of routine procedures following the unauthorised access," a spokesperson said.

Scott Reef is Australia's largest standalone oceanic reef and a refuge for thousands of aquatic creatures and shorebirds. Woodside's plans have been heavily contested by environmental groups opposed to gas developments in the area. Woodside's Browse gas project plans to tap into Australia's largest undeveloped offshore gas reserve, and is estimated to cost about $48.7 billion according to a Deloitte analysis.

Woodside said Greenpeace's activists had "deliberately and unlawfully" accessed the floating production unit and had "not only endangered their own safety, but that of Woodside staff". "Greenpeace's actions have triggered a significant, potentially costly and entirely avoidable response, requiring Western Australian resources to be mobilised to manage the safety, security and operational consequences of their actions," a Woodside spokesperson said. "The activists' conduct is not peaceful. It is dangerous, reckless and illegal."

Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter said the activists involved in the latest demonstration were "highly trained and experienced", and said care was "always taken in the health, safety and welfare of all involved". He said environmental groups had been scaling up their activism in response to Woodside's planned Browse project. "Greenpeace and other community organisations have been building up their activities matching that rise in community concern," Mr Ritter told the ABC.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The protest has halted pre-commissioning activities at the Scarborough project, potentially delaying Woodside's timeline and costing the company money.
The escalation reflects growing community opposition to new offshore gas developments, particularly the proposed Browse project near Scott Reef.
The incident raises questions about security at offshore energy infrastructure and the cost of policing such protests.

Background

Woodside Energy is developing the Scarborough gas field off Western Australia, a major export project. The company also plans the Browse project, which would tap one of the country's largest undeveloped offshore gas reserves. Scott Reef, near Browse, is an ecologically sensitive area that environmental groups want to protect from industrial development. Greenpeace has long campaigned against Woodside's fossil fuel projects, using direct actions that sometimes involve activists boarding offshore platforms.

Key Perspectives

Woodside: The company condemns the action as dangerous and illegal, arguing it endangered workers and triggered a costly emergency response. It has paused operations as a precaution. Greenpeace Australia Pacific: The group defends the protest as a necessary civil disobedience tactic, insisting activists are trained and safety-conscious. It argues community concern over climate change and the Browse project justifies escalating action. Authorities and regulators: The Australian Border Force and police are handling the incident, which may lead to criminal charges. The response draws on state and federal resources.

What to Watch

The legal outcome for the two activists arrested and whether charges are laid.
Whether Woodside resumes Scarborough pre-commissioning quickly or faces further delays.
The potential for further protests if the Browse project moves toward approval.

Sources

Two people in custody after protest at offshore Woodside gas platform · Just In
Two people in custody after protest at offshore Woodside gas platform · Latest business news

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

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SupportedHeadline: Two arrested after Greenpeace activists occupy Woodside gas platform off WA coastJust In: “Two people are in police custody after occupying an offshore Woodside gas platform about 200 kilometres off Western Australia's coast to protest against the company's gas operations.”
SupportedSummary: Protesters scaled the rig early Saturday, disrupting operations at the $12.5 billion Scarborough projectJust In: “Greenpeace said four protesters travelled to the platform early Saturday morning... Woodside confirmed the protest had disrupted operations at the rig, which forms part of the company's $12.5 billion Scarborough natural gas project.”
SupportedTwo Greenpeace activists have been taken into police custody after occupying a Woodside gas platform about 200 km off WA coastJust In: “On Sunday afternoon Greenpeace said two of its activists had been taken into police custody.”
SupportedDisrupting operations at the Scarborough project and drawing a response from the Australian Border Force and federal and state agenciesJust In: “An Australian Border Force (ABF) spokesperson said they were working with federal and state agencies to respond to the situation after activists occupied the rig overnight and disrupted the gas giant's operations.”
SupportedImages shared by Greenpeace show activists scaling a Woodside gas platform and hanging a banner in protest of the planned gas project at Scott ReefJust In: “Images shared by environmental advocacy group Greenpeace Australia Pacific show its activists scaling a Woodside gas platform and hanging a banner in protest of the company's planned gas project at Scott Reef.”
SupportedGreenpeace said four protesters travelled to the platform early Saturday morning, and two set up 'temporary hanging tents' to occupy the platform for 'as long as possible'Just In: “Greenpeace said four protesters travelled to the platform early Saturday morning, and two of them set up "temporary hanging tents" to occupy the platform for "as long as possible".”
SupportedSpecial police forces landed a helicopter on the platform at around 11:30am AWST, activists removed themselves and were taken into custody around 1pmJust In: “"Special police forces landed a helicopter on the [platform] at around 11:30am AWST," Greenpeace said. "The activists safely removed themselves from their equipment before being taken into police custody around 1pm."”
SupportedWoodside confirmed the protest disrupted operations at the rig, part of the $12.5 billion Scarborough natural gas projectJust In: “Woodside confirmed the protest had disrupted operations at the rig, which forms part of the company's $12.5 billion Scarborough natural gas project.”
SupportedWoodside spokesperson: 'Pre-commissioning activities at Scarborough have been paused as part of routine procedures following the unauthorised access'Just In: “"Pre-commissioning activities at Scarborough have been paused as part of routine procedures following the unauthorised access," a spokesperson said.”
SupportedScott Reef is Australia's largest standalone oceanic reef and a refuge for thousands of aquatic creatures and shorebirdsJust In: “Scott Reef is Australia's largest standalone oceanic reef and a refuge for thousands of aquatic creatures and shorebirds”
SupportedWoodside's Browse gas project plans to tap into Australia's largest undeveloped offshore gas reserve, estimated to cost about $48.7 billion according to a Deloitte analysisJust In: “Woodside's Browse gas project plans to tap into Australia's largest undeveloped offshore gas reserve, and is estimated to cost about $48.7 billion according to a Deloitte analysis.”
SupportedGreenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter said activists were 'highly trained and experienced', care always taken, and environmental groups are scaling up activism in response to Woodside's planned Browse projectJust In: “Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter said the activists involved in the latest demonstration were "highly trained and experienced", and said care was "always taken in the health, safety and welfare of all involved". He said environmental groups had been scaling up their activism in response to Woodside's planned Browse project. "Greenpeace and other community organisations have been building up their activities matching that rise in community concern," Mr Ritter told the ABC.”