---
title: Climate activism being suppressed as PM does “jig” to celebrate toxic fossil fuel project
description: Climate defenders are increasingly being suppressed as the unregulated influence of the fossil fuel industry drives political inaction on climate.
---
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au)
[](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy)
The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
# Climate activism being suppressed as PM does “jig” to celebrate toxic fossil fuel project
Thursday, 25 November 2021
Climate defenders are increasingly being suppressed by Australian governments as the unregulated influence of the fossil fuel industry drives political inaction on climate, according to a new report by Greenpeace Australia Pacific, the Human Rights Law Centre, and the Environmental Defenders Office.
Meanwhile, Scott Morrison is celebrating one of the biggest fossil fuel projects this decade rushing ahead, saying he “did a bit of a jig” after hearing the Scarborough gas project achieved final investment approval.
Another one bites the dust as explosive engineers demolished two 175-metre chimneys at a defunct coal-fired power station in Wallerawang as part of efforts to transform the site.
[Report hits out at activist 'repression'](https://7news.com.au/politics/report-hits-out-at-activist-repression-c-4691750)
Green and human rights groups have hit out at what they see as the growing repression of climate activism in Australia. They cited "anti-protest laws" in Queensland and Tasmania, a proposed crackdown on charity regulations, and the excessive policing of and legal penalties for climate activists.
[Scott Morrison ‘did a jig’ following approval of $16bn gas project labelled a ‘disaster’ by green groups](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/24/scott-morrison-did-a-jig-following-approval-of-16bn-gas-project-labelled-a-disaster-by-green-groups)
Prime Minister Scott Morrison tells the Business Council of Australia he ‘could not be more thrilled’ about Woodside proceeding with Scarborough gas development and “did a bit of a jig” after hearing it achieved final investment approval by the energy giant Woodside.
[‘The skyline changed’: End of an era for power station as new energy chapter begins](https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-skyline-changed-end-of-an-era-for-power-station-as-new-energy-chapter-begins-20211124-p59bpc.html)
The Wallerawang power plant’s two chimneys have towered over the town in the state’s Central Tablelands region for decades. But the 175-metre icons finally came crashing down on Wednesday as the town prepares to start a new energy chapter.
[Shell takeover of Powershop infuriates green consumers](https://www.smh.com.au/national/shell-takeover-of-powershop-infuriates-green-consumers-20211124-p59bp9.html)
Consumers are abandoning online green energy darling Powershop Australia after Shell announced earlier this week that it would acquire the electricity and gas retailer and 185,000 of its customers.
[Cheap renewables to keep pushing power bills down, even after Liddell exit](http://reneweconomy.com.au/cheap-renewables-to-keep-pushing-power-bills-down-even-after-liddell-exit/)
Australian households can look forward to paying roughly $77 less for their electricity in 2024 than they did this financial year, as cheap renewables continue to push down wholesale power prices, and despite the closure of more fossil fuel generators.
[Coal](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/coal), [gas](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/gas), [energy policy](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/energy-policy), [climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change)
### Will you share with your friends?
[Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/climate-activism-being-suppressed-as-pm-does-jig-to-celebrate-toxic-fossil-fuel-project%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [Share on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=Check%20out%20this%20thing%20from%20Greenpeace!%20https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/climate-activism-being-suppressed-as-pm-does-jig-to-celebrate-toxic-fossil-fuel-project%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dwhatsapp) [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/climate-activism-being-suppressed-as-pm-does-jig-to-celebrate-toxic-fossil-fuel-project%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/climate-activism-being-suppressed-as-pm-does-jig-to-celebrate-toxic-fossil-fuel-project%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=)
[Go to the website](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
## More news
### [As the G20 summit closes, Morrison's pants are ablaze](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/as-the-g20-summit-closes-morrisons-pants-are-ablaze)
As we head into the COP26 Climate Summit today, we’ve seen weakly-worded climate platitudes from...
### [Schoolkids set to strike for the climate](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/schoolkids-set-to-strike-for-the-climate)
Two Australian climate scientists have written a Climate Doctor’s Certificate for students to use...
### ['Morrison walked back COP26 commitments before the ink was dry '](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/morrison-walked-back-cop26-commitments-before-the-ink-was-dry)
A diplomat hailed as one of the author’s of the Paris Agreement has expressed her disappointment...
Work like this is only made possible by our supporters. Greenpeace accepts NO government funding or corporate donations to remain impartial. To amplify meaningful climate activism in Australia, ***become a regular giver today.***
[Donate to Support Greenpeace](https://donate.greenpeace.org.au/)
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
Connect with us
**Call:** [1800 815 151](tel:1800815151)
Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders — past, present and future — and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia, the environmental movement and the Greenpeace crew.
© Greenpeace 2026. [Privacy Policy.](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/privacy-policy/)