Federal Labor MP Josh Wilson has become the first WA-based Labor member to formally oppose fracking in the Kimberley, as newly revealed environmental warnings about the Browse project intensify concerns over gas development across the region.

Federal Member for Fremantle Josh Wilson has formally raised concerns about fracking in the Kimberley in a letter dated 21 October 2026, warning it could threaten the Martuwarra/Fitzroy River, water resources and First Nations rights and culture.

His intervention follows growing opposition to Black Mountain Energy's Valhalla project, which proposes drilling and fracking up to 20 exploration and appraisal wells in the Kimberley.

"I share the sharp concern of many in our community when it comes to the significant risks that come with fracking in general," Mr Wilson wrote to a constituent.

"I am particularly concerned about fracking in the Kimberley, with the potential to impact on the Martuwarra/Fitzroy River."

He said the existing state moratorium, which prevents fracking across 98 per cent of WA, should be extended to the Kimberley.

"Clearly the Kimberley is the missing piece in terms of protecting the West Australian environment, water systems, and First Nations rights/culture from this kind of intrusive and unnecessary method," he said.

Wilson also supports a November 2025 WA Labor State Conference resolution calling for the moratorium to be extended to the Kimberley.

His comments follow an October rally at WA Parliament House, where more than 1,000 people, including Traditional Owners from across the Kimberley, gathered to demand Premier Roger Cook ban fracking.

Environs Kimberley executive director Martin Pritchard said they would continue to protest until changes were made.

"The thousand people who turned up at Parliament showed that the community won't back down - nothing less than a rejection of the Valhalla project and a ban on fracking will do," he said.

Nyikina woman Pat Riley, from Pandanus Park who was present at the rally, said communities downstream feared contamination of the river.

"We don't want to see fracking in the Martuwarra Fitzroy River catchment. Our community is at the end of the river and any pollution from fracking upstream will affect us. We want a clean, healthy river," she said.

The Valhalla project received a conditional recommendation for approval from the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in January 2026, triggering more than 8,000 public appeals.

Separately, newly revealed documents made public in October show the WA EPA's preliminary view in February 2024 was that Woodside Energy's Browse gas project should be rejected because of potential damage to Scott Reef and Rowley Shoals.

A draft letter prepared in December 2023 and subsequently sent to Woodside by then-EPA chairman Matthew Tonts warned of potential environmental harm.

"The EPA does not consider the measures you have proposed are proportionate to the risk of serious or irreversible harm to Scott Reef, Rowley Shoals and the surrounding marine environments from unplanned hydrocarbon release and other cumulative and holistic impacts," he wrote.

The EPA warned potential oil spill consequences could be "significant, serious and irreversible", with modelling scenarios ranging up to "catastrophic".

Advice provided in 2023 warned a leaking well lasting just 13 days could have "irreversible consequences" for Scott Reef, after Woodside said a capping stack could stop a leak within 16 days.

The documents also identify Sandy Islet as critical nesting habitat for approximately 1,000 genetically distinct endangered green turtles.

A spokesperson from Woodside said the company's amended proposal addressed earlier environmental concerns, including relocating drilling more than 20 kilometres from Sandy Islet and introducing technology to reduce well-control risks.

"Those documents do not reflect the proposal currently before regulators or the substantial changes made since that time," the spokesperson said.

The company said updated 2024 modelling estimated project-attributable subsidence at Sandy Islet of 1.1 to 3.8 millimetres over 40 years.

Image: Wendy Mitchell

Woodside also stated it was committed to monitoring turtle nesting habitat and implementing remediation if significant beach loss occurred.

In August 2025, the EPA accepted the amendments for assessment but stressed they "don't change the previously identified key environmental factors". The project has not received final environmental approval.

Lock the Gate WA coordinator Simone van Hattem said community opposition to fracking was becoming impossible for Labor to ignore.

"The widespread community opposition to fracking in the Kimberley is becoming impossible for Labor to ignore."