A spokesman would not say if the state government would seek to add the gulf to the heritage listing or not.

There are also still private plans in motion to build a deep water port in the gulf and salt projects near mangrove systems on the eastern side of the water body.

But Winton said there was a greater long-term threat to Exmouth than industrialisation which also imperilled the world – the fossil fuel industry – which he said encircled Ningaloo “physically and politically”.

“And that, my friends, is the smouldering dumpster fire of business as usual in this country. If we genuinely care about preserving the conditions of life on this planet we’ve got to put it out and we must do it now. And I’m afraid that means that all of us might have to hold a hose, mate,” he said.

“We can’t keep averting our gaze and pretending that this isn’t happening. Our leaders can’t keep appeasing the empire that’s still trying to tell us that there’s nothing to worry about, that it’s the solution, not part of the problem. So let’s be clear. There’s no greater threat to life on this planet than global heating.”

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Winton singled out gas in particular, which had been sold as a vital part of the energy transition – “as long as that transition lasts another 50, 80, 100 years”.

“Our democracy has been so bewitched and so thoroughly gas lit that the nation is now terrified at the prospect of leaving what clearly constitutes a toxic relationship,” he said.

Winton also described a “colonisation” of the public conscience by the resources sector.

“Before they can become lifesavers, our kids need to be ‘Woodside’ nippers first,” he said.

“The branding is ubiquitous. The colonisation is complete and it goes almost entirely unremarked – and I find that remarkable.”

The author said he took it personally and found most disheartening that his own industry was being “co-opted” by the oil and gas industry.

“With everything that we know about the climate emergency, it’s still possible in this town without even batting an eye, to present a significant musical event, inspired by the tragic fate of our oceans in the age of global heating and have it proudly funded in part by Woodside,” he said.

“Falling for this old soft power ploy, it doesn’t make us bad people. It does make us chumps.

“All around us every day financial institutions, super funds, shareholder groups and banks are withdrawing their patronage of the fossil fuel industry, because it’s seen increasingly as a bad bet with looming stranded assets and in their view, it no longer passes the ethics test.

“So how is it that we in the arts community should show less creativity and moral imagination than bankers?”

No boycotts were called for by Winton, but the author did say he was disappointed the Perth Festival was still sponsored by Chevron while WAYO and WASO, which was putting on the show Become Ocean that is about climate change, took money from Woodside.

“I do want us to acknowledge how things still work here. How captive we are. I suspect that to some of the folks who were involved in decisions around that [WAYO and WASO] production ... I’m sure, the dissonance just wasn’t audible,” he said.

“And that just shows you how normal it is, how safe the fossil giants still feel here in the wild west.

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“For who else in the corporate world, sailing so close to reputation oblivion, could feel that safe and so confident? You reckon a brewery would put itself forward for a show about fetal alcohol syndrome? How about the tobacco industry sponsoring ventilators for lung patients?”

Responding to the speech, Perth Festival executive director Nathan Bennett said taking sponsorships from a wide range of partners meant it could make arts accessible to as many people as possible.

“The Festival has always been a platform for many art forms, voices and perspectives to be heard. Artistic freedom of expression is paramount,” he said.

“Become Ocean is a major work involving two orchestras also at the heart of our culture in WA. The Festival is proud to showcase and support local companies in our 2022 program.

“We receive support from a wide range of partners – including corporate sponsors, government supporters and philanthropists – that represent the scope of the Western Australian business sector.

“This support allows us to provide hundreds of thousands of Western Australians with world-class cultural experiences that otherwise would not happen.”

A Woodside spokeswoman said the company had been a committed supporter of young musicians since 1991 and its support of productions like Become Ocean was helping develop local talent.

“Our 30-year relationship with the Western Australian Youth Orchestras reached new heights in 2021 with the addition of a new partnership, connecting WAYO with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra,” she said.

A Chevron spokesman said Winton was a cherished Australian author and had the right to express his opinions.

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“Chevron prides itself on building meaningful relationships with the communities where we live and work and we welcome open and transparent engagement with all stakeholders regarding our operations,” he said.

“The arts community has experienced particular challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic due to the postponement and cancellation of events. At this difficult time, we are pleased to support Perth Festival, which provides an important opportunity for Australian artists to showcase their talents.”

Towards the end of his speech, Winton said it was not too late to limit warming.

“When I was 16, there were only 300 humpback whales left on our side of the continent; brink of extinction,” he said.

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“Because whaling was business as usual back then, and always would be or so they said. Now, only a generation later my grandkids can see the descendants of those original 300 whales up at Ningaloo.

“That’s no problem because now there’s 40,000 of the buggers. Because the inevitable stopped being inevitable, Australians woke up and they pulled up.

“These changes, they didn’t arrive by accident. Brave people made them happen. Making change for the common good. To me, that’s a pure expression of yearning for life.”