The long-awaited report into the state's domestic gas policy will be tabled this week, a deadline confirmed hours after opposition voices warned of the consequences of further pushback.
The long-awaited report into the state's domestic gas policy will be tabled this week, a deadline confirmed hours after opposition voices warned of the consequences of further pushback.
The report from the Peter Tinley-led Economics and Industry Standing Committee will be released on Thursday, following several delays which have pushed its release back to more than a year after the inquiry into domestic gas started.
The report will contain 77 findings and 30 recommendations to the state government.
"The committee is hopeful that the scope and magnitude of these recommendations will help bring about critical improvements to the WA domestic gas policy and the wider domestic gas market," Mr Tinley said in a brief release this afternoon.
"Reforms recommended in the report are made to secure WA's domestic gas supply for decades to come."
The report was initially scheduled for tabling in November 2023, a goalpost which was shifted back to May 30 due to the complexity and span of stakeholder engagement on the matter.
That date was then moved into June, and then pushed back at the last moment until mid-August to allow the committee more time to digest information.
“This will ensure that the final report incorporates the widest possible views in a fair and equitable manner,” the committee said in a memo circulated to stakeholders at the time.
Confirmation of the tabling date comes after opposition energy spokesperson Steve Thomas warned any further delay could result in government inaction on what is clearly a contentious policy area, ahead of the 2025 state election.
“If the report is tabled this Thursday the government will be required to table a response within three months, as per the Legislative Assembly standing order,” he said.
“That would mean a response by the fifteenth of November, after which there would be at least two sitting weeks remaining.
“Any further delay in the report would mean it could not be tabled until September, which would mean no government response would be required before the last sitting day of the forty-first parliament.
“Under the standing orders, after the election the government is not required to respond at all.”
An interim report from the committee was tabled in February and called for government intervention to protect the state from a serious gas shortfall later this decade.
In the meantime, gas developers and producers in the Mid West are sounding off against the state’s industrial gas users.
Those with gas projects near Dongara in the onshore Perth Basin, such as John Poynton-chaired Strike Energy and Chris Ellison-led Mineral Resources – have been calling for exemptions to allow them to export some of what they produce as LNG for international markets.
Industrial gas users, represented by the DomGas Alliance, are fighting for stability of domestic supply and are supportive of the state’s current gas policy settings which require onshore producers to feed the local market only.
In the case of MinRes, a final investment decision has been paused at the Lockyer gas project pending policy clarity.
Complicating the matter is the Waitsia stage two joint venture, part-owned by Kerry Stokes-backed Beach Energy, which received an export exemption in late 2020 from then-Premier Mark McGowan.
Waitsia’s second stage has long been stalled and its costs have blown out, but it is expected to reach first production early next year.
Mr McGowan’s deputy-turned-successor, Premier Roger Cook, closed the export exemption window for onshore producers near existing gas infrastructure mid last year, as the inquiry into domgas policy began.
That decision meant Waitsia is allowed to do what its neighbours currently cannot – produce LNG for export markets.
One of those neighbours, MinRes, has since engaged Mr McGowan as a strategic consultant.
Mr Cook’s stance on domgas policy has wavered. Early suggestions were that he was in favour of lifting the exemption ban, but his messaging has been more muted recently.
The premier has committed to considering the findings of the report once it is handed down, but said in March that his government won’t “necessarily agree” with its insights.
With an election fast approaching, Dr Thomas said time was suddenly of the essence in relation to domgas.
“My concern is that a government response is likely still months away and will not be required until we are in full campaign mode if the report is on time, and not required at all with any further delay,” he said.
“While Premier Roger Cook was last year promoting the potential export of onshore gas, he has recently appeared to weaken in his resolve on this key issue and is now suggesting there may be no change to the existing ban.
“The entire energy industry needs policy certainty, and trying to respond to concerns in the middle of an election campaign would be a less than optimal outcome."
The state election will be held on March 8, 2025.
