Some of Australia’s biggest names in music have come together for a good cause, with King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Jimmy Barnes and more joining forces on a new track calling for action to save Western Australia’s Scott Reef.
Released today, “If Not Now” reimagines King Gizzard’s Environmental Music Prize-winning track “If Not Now, Then When?”, calling on the federal government to block Woodside’s proposed gas drilling operations around the ancient coral reef.
Located approximately 270 kilometres off the Kimberley coast, Scott Reef is a 15-million-year-old marine ecosystem home to thousands of marine animals, including endangered species. Environmental groups have raised concerns over Woodside’s plans to drill up to 57 gas wells beneath and around the reef, warning of the potential consequences for the region’s biodiversity.
The collaboration, spearheaded by Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Green Music Australia and p(doom) Records, comes as the federal government prepares to make a decision on the controversial project in the coming months.
King Gizzard frontman Stu Mackenzie said: “Why are we still digging up coal and gas? Why are we allowing this? Why is the Australian government so hell bent on destroying our beautiful wild and untouched places? I’m proud that a King Gizz song was chosen to represent a growing movement of people who are asking these questions and applying pressure. Let’s shut it down and keep it beautiful.”
Barnes echoed his concerns, highlighting the importance of protecting Australia’s natural environment. “Scott Reef is one of the few pristine reefs left in the world and it happens to be on our doorstep. We’re custodians of it – we’re supposed to be looking after it. It’s ridiculous. We must protect our country and look after what we value most, which is the nature and the beauty of this country.”
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The track was produced by Mackenzie alongside musician and Green Music Australia campaigner Tim Shiel, with Fred Leone, who was named Artist of the Year at the 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards, performing on it in Butchulla, while Drifting Clouds’ Terry Guyula delivers a translation of the chorus in Yolŋu Matha.
Elsewhere, the track features contributions from Spacey Jane’s Peppa Lane, Djugun and Jabirr-Jabirr singer-songwriter NIDALA, teenage trio Birdland, Barnes’ daughter Mahalia Barnes and granddaughter Ruby Rodgers (who won the 2026 Environmental Music Prize), as well as John Butler, Alex Lahey, Leah Senior, Ngaiire, Close Counters and The Moving Stills’ Tom Mahler, and DOBBY and Urthboy – who team up for a rap verse.
Marine biologist and freediver Brinkley Davies also appears through a spoken-word sample taken from the Scott Reef documentary Coral’s Last Stand.
Accompanying the release is artwork and a visualiser created by Australian artist and music video director Jonathan Zawada, known for his work with Flume and The Avalanches.
The single is now available across digital streaming platforms, with a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl release supported by p(doom) Records, Program Records and Soundmerch.
“If Not Now” is out now.
From Rolling Stone AU/NZ
