The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) has slammed a new Deloitte report commissioned by Woodside as “corporate propaganda” designed to hide the fact the Browse gas export proposal would be a “drain on our economy and a disaster for our environment.”
CCWA Senior Campaigner Greta Carroll said the report admits that Western Australia is lagging when it comes to climate action, claiming WA is set to miss its target of net zero by 2050 by up to a decade — even without Browse.
“Woodside has commissioned a report that shows WA is falling behind when it comes to climate action — and has taken all the wrong lessons from it,” Ms Carroll said.
“Instead of prioritising the renewable transition, the company is doubling down on fossil gas that is expensive, unreliable and polluting — disastrous for both the economy and environment.
“Western Australia needs concrete emissions reduction targets and to prioritise renewables over new gas projects like Browse. That’s the best way to build a thriving economy and protect places we love like Scott Reef.
“This report is an attempt by Woodside to undermine the Federal Government’s plans for a domestic gas reservation policy that actually delivers — unlike the WA scheme that has been undermined in favour of big gas exporters.
“Woodside has consistently underdelivered on its domestic gas obligations. Woodside’s Pluto gas plant has delivered less than 4% of its production to the domestic market — far from the 15% required target.
“We know gas export giants don’t comply with WA’s reservation policy. In 2023, only 8% of WA gas was reserved for domestic use.
“If Woodside was really serious about helping the WA economy, the first thing they’d do is start delivering what they owe to the domestic market. The second thing would be to cancel the Browse gas project, which risks increasing WA’s domestic gas prices and gives them a licence to export more Australian gas royalty-free.
“This report is a smoke screen to hide the fact that when Woodside says its gas is good for the economy, it really means it's good for its profits, not the wellbeing of ordinary Australians.
“A 2025 report by IEEFA revealed Browse gas risked making WA’s domestic gas prices four times more expensive and would be unusually emissions intensive.
ENDS
Media contact: John Cooke – 0433 679 780