The Australian federal government has filed a late legal bid to prevent the disclosure of details from ministerial meetings with Woodside Energy, just as a final court challenge to the company's North West Shelf gas project begins in Melbourne.
The move aims to shield sensitive discussions from public view during what environmentalists describe as a critical legal battle over the future of the resource development.
The legal maneuvering introduces fresh regulatory risk for Woodside, which is already navigating a complex political landscape regarding domestic gas supply.
The federal government's attempt to block disclosure suggests the stakes of the upcoming court proceedings are high, with potential implications for the project's timeline and operational approvals.
Markets are likely to view this as an escalation in the regulatory friction surrounding major Australian energy infrastructure.
This development occurs against a backdrop of growing tension between state and federal authorities over energy policy.