The stakes could not be higher. The very existence of one of the world’s most important artworks is at risk.

The Murujuga Rock Art is a unique 40,000-year-old collection of rock engravings on the Dampier Archipelago in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

These irreplaceable petroglyphs are twice as old as France’s Lascaux cave paintings and eight times older than the pyramids.

Murujuga is nationally heritage-listed and could soon be recognised by UNESCO for its world heritage value.

But it is facing destruction from acid rain caused by nearby gas processing.

On May 31, the Australian government will decide whether to approve another 50 years of acid gas emissions from the gas hub, which would signal the death knell for Murujuga.

Most of this gas is exported, and pollution from the largest and most destructive project, the North West Shelf gas export terminal, produces close to 8,000 tonnes of acid gas emissions annually.

“Without intervention, our cultural heritage could be lost forever,” said Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor at The Australia Institute.

“No other nation on earth would stand by and let this happen.

“This is one of the most important decisions facing the government after the election – and it will send a signal to the world about its priorities.

“Some great Australians have already had their say on this issue. I would urge anyone who cares about Murujuga to join them.”

Join Jimmy Barnes, Tim Winton, Paul Kelly, Patricia Piccinini, Tracey Moffatt, Kate Grenville, Fiona Hall and Thomas Keneally in signing a petition to #savemurujuga and send videos, comments and images to savemurujuga@gmail.com.