Indigenous Peoples cultural heritage and engagement 

Woodside’s Cultural Heritage Standard (Standard) sets out how we give effect to the intent of our Indigenous Communities Policy in respect of cultural heritage. The Standard supports our approach to thorough, transparent and collaborative management of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, with the intent to avoid impacts, or, where avoidance is not possible, to minimise and manage those impacts. This is not only the right thing to do, it also reduces operational uncertainty and risk to Woodside.

In 2025, there were two significant developments within the Murujuga Cultural Landscape in Western Australia. The first was UNESCO’s inscription of the Murujuga Cultural Landscape on the World Heritage List in July 2025. The second was the Australian Federal Environment Minister’s declaration in September 2025 for the protection of specified areas of Murujuga under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth). Woodside continues to monitor and adapt our approach to cultural heritage management as societal expectations and external policy landscapes evolve. Woodside was a supporter of the successful inscription of the Murujuga Cultural Landscape on the World Heritage List.

We aim to keep Traditional Owners and Custodians central to heritage management so that their cultural values are understood and remain protected.

For example, we prepare Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMP) for our projects, and conduct heritage audits and surveys, with input from Traditional Owners and Custodians as well as from independent heritage experts. Woodside is also committed to ensuring the ongoing management of cultural heritage is transparent, thorough and continues to benefit from the input and engagement of Indigenous communities.

This approach is illustrated in our consultations for Environment Plans for offshore and nearshore oil and gas activities, and heritage monitoring for onshore ground-disturbing activities.

Building on previous innovative research in the waters off Murujuga, we actively seek to understand the existing and potential tangible and intangible cultural heritage values of the submerged cultural landscape relevant to our activities. This includes seabed mapping and specialist desktop underwater cultural heritage assessments. These efforts inform project implementation so that underwater cultural heritage is identified, protected and managed.

Find out more about our approach to Australian Cultural Heritage Management

Woodside proudly supported the World Heritage nomination and assessment process, including through:

• funding for resources to Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) to assist with drafting of the World Heritage nomination documents
• provision of technical and operational information to support the nomination
• funding support to MAC to attend and participate at the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)⁹ General Assembly
• hosting an ICOMOS inspector’s visit to Pluto LNG Park
• support for heritage management initiatives, including the Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program, to inform and demonstrate the coexistence of industry and heritage.

On 11 July 2025, the Murujuga Cultural Landscape was successfully inscribed on the World Heritage List. Woodside will continue to collaborate with MAC and Traditional Custodians to enable coexistence of Woodside’s operations with the World Heritage property’s Outstanding Universal Values.¹⁰

The listing provides a greater level of certainty about the heritage values at Murujuga and will inform our approach to sustainability practices, community consultations, and existing and new regulatory approvals. We acknowledge this was the first Western Australian Indigenous-led nomination accepted and inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Woodside is pleased to have contributed to this achievement.

Woodside’s Indigenous Affairs and Human Rights team proudly joined hundreds of people at two powerful Indigenous festivals held in Canada and Australia in August 2025.

In British Columbia, the Fort Nelson First Nation cultural celebration marked 115 years since the signing of Treaty No. 8 and honoured the vibrant traditions, community spirit and cultural strength of the Dene and Cree peoples. The two-day event brought together families, youth and Elders with traditional games, dancing, drumming, children’s activities and shared meals with community members.

In Western Australia, Woodside had the privilege of joining the 40th anniversary of the Kimberley Aboriginal Land and Culture Centre Festival. Held in the Aboriginal community of Ngumpan, an hour outside of Fitzroy Crossing, the five-day event drew people from across the Kimberley to celebrate culture and community through dance, song and story. The gathering brought together groups from across the Kimberley to discuss critical community issues. A defining moment was the announcement of the Kimberley Aboriginal Regional Body, comprising elected representatives to advocate on key issues affecting the region and its people.

Woodside attendees reflected that both festivals provided unforgettable experiences – bringing together culture, community and the collective voice of Indigenous Peoples.

In October 2021, Woodside commenced engagement with the South West Land and Sea Council on behalf of the Gnaala Karla Booja Aboriginal Corporation (GKBAC), in relation to the proposed H2Perth and Hydrogen Refueller @H2Perth projects in Rockingham and Kwinana (Australia). Early consultation has commenced in ways that are consistent with the principles of FPIC.

Woodside entered into a Noongar Standard Heritage Agreement with GKBAC in 2022, which provided a respectful framework for engaging on cultural heritage issues in the project area. Woodside has since received cultural heritage reports from the Traditional Owners and Custodians which will form the basis for protecting and minimising impacts to cultural heritage values in the project areas. In May 2024, in collaboration with GKBAC, a Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the Hydrogen Refueller @H2Perth was developed. Woodside continues to strengthen our relationship with GKBAC through ongoing engagement and through management of cultural heritage in the Hydrogen Refueller @H2Perth project area.

In November 2022, Woodside and the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) entered into a bilateral Indigenous Land Use Agreement and a modern benefits sharing and relationship agreement relating to lands that are planned to be used for the proposed Woodside Solar project in the Pilbara . Woodside is exploring plans to supply approximately 50 MW of solar energy to Pluto LNG, which could contribute to reducing Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions from Pluto LNG. Progress on this project remains subject to securing an acceptable transmission solution and associated commercial arrangements before any final investment decision on this project.

This project is proposed to initially generate electricity from a large-scale solar farm, complemented by a battery energy storage system. The lands upon which the solar farm is proposed are within part of the Ngarluma people’s native title determined area located in Maitland, 15 kilometers south-west of Karratha (Australia). The agreements set out a framework for the delivery of social and economic benefits to NAC and the Ngarluma people in connection with this opportunity. These agreements also outline how Woodside and NAC will work together to develop this opportunity, including the management of cultural heritage. Woodside has been engaging with NAC regarding this opportunity since 2019 and the agreements are a milestone to be celebrated. Woodside is committed to working with the Ngarluma community and other stakeholders to progress the project.

Woodside signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 29 July 2022 with Murihiku Regeneration, the representatives for the Ngāi Tahu iwi in Murihiku-Southland. Murihiku Hapū and Ngāi Tahu iwi are key collaborators in future projects in Murihiku-Southland. Woodside is committed to maintaining the relationship with Ngāi Tahu iwi.

A key commitment of our Reconciliation Action Plan is the establishment of a Indigenous Advisory Group (IAG). The role of the IAG is to provide Woodside with expert knowledge, advice and recommendations on matters affecting Indigenous Peoples and communities that are of regional, national and international importance. IAG participants are selected based on their expertise relevant to the topics being discussed at each meeting. The IAG shares knowledge, insights, context and perspectives with Woodside and works collaboratively to identify commendable features of our work, recommend areas for improvement, help inform decision-making processes and strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities. Further to previous IAG roundtables, in 2025 we held two roundtable discussions. The topics discussed in 2025 were:

• Corporate responsibility for reconciliation
• Cultural Heritage.

The Indigenous experts involved have come from various locations around Australia and Canada. At each discussion there has been a representative from an Indigenous community in Western Australia. The attendees from Woodside included members of the Executive Leadership Team, the Head of Indigenous Affairs and Human Rights, and representatives from both the Woodside Reconciliation Community and Australian Indigenous Collegiate. Woodside will continue to welcome a diverse range of members so that various perspectives are heard and that the individuals participating are subject matter experts best placed to discuss the topic at hand. Our commitment is to host roundtable discussions at least twice per year.

Woodside maintains our commitment to ways of working that are consistent with the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). In December 2024, Woodside updated the Indigenous Communities Policy to include engaging with affected Indigenous communities in ways that are consistent with the principles of seeking Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Woodside actively engages in discussions impacting our coexistence and relationships with Indigenous Peoples. For example, on 2 August 2022 the Senate referred an inquiry into the application of UNDRIP in Australia, to the newly established Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (Joint Standing Committee). The Joint Standing Committee inquired into international experiences of the implementation of UNDRIP, considering options for improving adherence to UNDRIP principles in Australia and assessed how the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart could support the application of UNDRIP. Woodside made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee expressing support for clarity in Australian law in relation to FPIC to support communities and companies to understand their rights. Woodside was the only energy and resources company to make a submission into the inquiry.

Our submissions can be found at  Government submissions & reports.

On 22 September 2022, Woodside received a Joint Communication (Communication) from the Special Procedures Branch of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner Human Rights. The Communication addresses issues regarding our activities on the Burrup Peninsula (Murujuga) and impacts on climate change and on Aboriginal rock art. Woodside has operated natural gas and liquefied natural gas facilities on Murujuga in Western Australia for more than 40 years, delivering natural gas to customers in Australia and around the world. Woodside maintains a strong record of safe and reliable operations. Woodside seeks to build enduring relationships with the communities in which we operate. We demonstrate respect for the culture and values of Indigenous communities and value the partnerships that have been established. Woodside prepared a submission in response to the matters raised in the Communication to support a wider understanding of the projects in question and the way we conduct our business.

The United Nations Communication is available on their website.
Our submission has been made public on the United Nations website. For more information, please refer to our submission.