The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) said WA needs a functioning domestic gas reservation scheme to avoid forecast gas shortages, not the approval of new climate-wrecking gas projects like Woodside’s Browse.
CCWA Executive Director Matt Roberts said the best way to secure long-term reliable, affordable energy for WA was to rapidly transition to renewables — “and we already have enough gas to get there without the need for new projects.”
“The problem is that the WA government is sitting back and letting gas that should be reserved for WA homes and businesses get shipped overseas,” Mr Roberts said.
“Multinational gas companies make billions of dollars exporting Western Australian gas, while gas prices go up for WA businesses.
“At the same time, pristine natural places like Scott Reef are at risk of devastation by drilling for new gas in Commonwealth waters that will be royalty-free and exported for huge corporate profits.
“The Federal Government’s proposed gas reservation scheme should apply in our state so we can ensure 20% of the gas produced here, stays here. That way, we can keep prices low without having to approve new fossil fuel projects.
“The WA government claims the scheme is working, but multinational gas exporters have only contributed just over half of the gas they’re meant to reserve for WA homes and businesses.
“Western Australians expect gas exporters to contribute 15% of the gas the produce to the WA market. But a WA Parliamentary Enquiry found that these multinational companies are only contributing around 8%.
“Reading Premier Cook’s claims about having to choose between drilling underneath Scott Reef or fracking the Kimberley are demonstrably untrue. We currently have Waitsia-sized and Pluto-sized holes in our domestic gas supply.
“Let's be clear WA is not short on gas – we have a gas export problem. The Premier’s framing is really about putting foreign gas needs above protecting some of WAs most precious environments like Scott Reef and the Fitzroy River basin.
“Woodside’s Pluto gas export project has contributed less than 4% of its gas to the domestic market. If Woodside really cared about the WA economy, the first thing it would do is start chipping in its fair share of domestic gas.
“Former Premier McGowan broke his own government’s rules about quarantining onshore gas for the domestic market and enabled Kerry Stokes backed Beach Energy to export onshore gas from Waitsia which started production in 2025.”
“Premier Cook intervened to kill off the gas tax, now, he wants big gas companies to get away with exporting gas that should be kept for Western Australians. Clearly, the Australian public want gas companies held to account, but Premier Cook keeps getting in the way.”
ENDS
Media contact: John Cooke – 0433 679 780