New analysis published on Australia’s leading investigative resources industry media outlet, Boiling Cold, has confirmed that a functioning domestic gas reservation policy would easily meet the state’s energy needs without drilling Scott Reef or fracking the Kimberley.
CCWA Executive Director Matt Roberts said the analysis clearly shows that implementing a functioning domestic gas reservation policy would provide more than enough gas for WA to thrive through the transition to a renewable energy future.
“The numbers don’t lie,” Mr Roberts said.
“This new analysis is yet more proof that WA does not have a gas shortage. Instead, we have a gas export crisis, with more than 90% of our gas going overseas.
“If Premier Roger Cook simply enforced his own domestic gas reservation policy, it would supply more gas to the market than Woodside’s Browse gas export project.
“Roger Cook has a choice to make; does he force big gas exporters to fulfil their existing obligations to Western Australians, or does he wreck WA nature so multinational companies like Woodside can make more profits?
“Premier Roger Cook’s claim that not approving Woodside’s Browse project would leave a looming ‘hole’ in WA’s energy security into the 2030s that would need to be filled by fracking in the Kimberley has been shown up as false,” Mr Roberts said.
”The Boiling Cold analysis clearly shows these predicted shortfalls only exist because the WA government has failed to hold the gas industry to account.
“Scott Reef is a pristine coral atoll that should be preserved for future generations — not sacrificed for Woodside’s gas export profits.
“It’s an incredibly diverse ecosystem, home to threatened species like the green sea turtle, the pygmy blue whale and the dusky sea snake - history will judge the WA government harshly if it allows Scott Reef to be destroyed for more gas exports.
“If we want cheap, reliable energy that protects us from chaotic global gas markets, we need to make an urgent transition to renewables.
“A proper gas reservation scheme will help us get there, but approving new gas projects will only set us further and further back.”
ENDS
Media contact: John Cooke – 0433 679 780