Former WA Premier Sir Charles Court has been recognised for his contribution to the development of the gas industry in WA.
The 1999 WA Gas Industry Development Award, instituted in 1998 by the Australian Gas Assoc-iation and North West Shelf Gas, acknowledges individuals and companies for their efforts in promoting the industry.
Sir Charles was WA Premier from 1974 to 1982. Between 1959 and 1971 he was Minister for Industrial Development and the North-West and primarily responsible for the state’s major resource developments in the iron ore, nickel, and alumina industries.
Major energy projects including the North-West Shelf natural gas project were negotiated while he was in power.
“We had a passion to get energy. Energy was the key we (WA) was short of. We didn’t have indigenous energy,” Sir Charles said.
Sir Charles said that the North-West Shelf project generated more criticism than anything else he was involved in while in office. However, he commented that the projects that suffered the most criticism often proved to be the best.
AGA chairman and Alinta Gas chief executive officer, Phil Harvey said: “Without Sir Charles’ vision and drive, it is unlikely the North-West Shelf would have developed in the manner and in the time frame that actually occurred.”