❓ Opposition Leader asks the Premier about Woodside's Browse LNG project at James Price Point. The Premier avoids a direct answer, criticises the opposition, and expresses support for the project and its potential benefits, particularly for Indigenous communities.
AnsweredQoN 7Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BROWSE LNG PROJECT —
WOODSIDE
7. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
(1) Has
Woodside advised the Premier that it will not be proceeding with the project at
James Price Point; and, if not, what recent advice has it provided about this
project?
(2) If it has
advised the Premier it will not be proceeding, what responsibility does the
Premier take for this failure?
WOODSIDE
7. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
(1) Has
Woodside advised the Premier that it will not be proceeding with the project at
James Price Point; and, if not, what recent advice has it provided about this
project?
(2) If it has
advised the Premier it will not be proceeding, what responsibility does the
Premier take for this failure?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
Once again the Leader of the Opposition barracks for losses for WA instead of
barracking for success in this state.
Mr M. McGowan :
Answer the question.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
will answer it.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Order, members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Woodside is the lead joint venture partner, but there are other joint venture
partners. Collectively they will make a final investment decision in June–July
this year. That is the process, and I guess they are getting close to that. I
hope that they will continue with James Price Point as the development. If they
choose not to do so, then that would take the project basically back to square one
and would probably mean delays of two, three, maybe even five years. I think
that would be a bitter disappointment in developing LNG in this state. Bear in
mind that this state government has seen both Gorgon and Wheatstone proceed
into construction. I think it would break the hearts of many Aboriginal people
in the Kimberley, even though I concede it has been a divisive issue in that
community.
I have continual discussions with
Woodside and it is not for me to comment publicly, particularly on
market-sensitive information, as to what decisions might be. This is important
for Australia and Western Australia. This is not just an isolated gas field;
this is major—one of the world's greatest resource basins in
terms of both gas and oil. There is a lot of oil out there. These projects are
not easy. They have never been easy. I will do all I can as the Premier of this
state to ensure that the project goes ahead and that gas comes onshore so that
there will be jobs in Western Australia during construction and more jobs
during the operational phase, that we will have gas coming into our economy to
build and, indeed, that there will be substantial benefits for local people,
particularly to the local Indigenous people, and they have been so brave. The
Aboriginal people who signed the agreements with the state have been courageous
and brave. I admire them for the work that they have done to try to give
genuine economic self-determination to their people. We in this house should be
supporting them, not looking for ways of trying to weaken the resolve of
companies.
By July, we will know what the situation is. Can I also
remind members of one other fact: about a third of this gas field is owned by
the state of Western Australia. It surrounds Scott Reef—so, one-third
state, two-thirds commonwealth. We have a direct say in what happens to that
natural gas.
Once again the Leader of the Opposition barracks for losses for WA instead of
barracking for success in this state.
Mr M. McGowan :
Answer the question.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
will answer it.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Order, members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Woodside is the lead joint venture partner, but there are other joint venture
partners. Collectively they will make a final investment decision in June–July
this year. That is the process, and I guess they are getting close to that. I
hope that they will continue with James Price Point as the development. If they
choose not to do so, then that would take the project basically back to square one
and would probably mean delays of two, three, maybe even five years. I think
that would be a bitter disappointment in developing LNG in this state. Bear in
mind that this state government has seen both Gorgon and Wheatstone proceed
into construction. I think it would break the hearts of many Aboriginal people
in the Kimberley, even though I concede it has been a divisive issue in that
community.
I have continual discussions with
Woodside and it is not for me to comment publicly, particularly on
market-sensitive information, as to what decisions might be. This is important
for Australia and Western Australia. This is not just an isolated gas field;
this is major—one of the world's greatest resource basins in
terms of both gas and oil. There is a lot of oil out there. These projects are
not easy. They have never been easy. I will do all I can as the Premier of this
state to ensure that the project goes ahead and that gas comes onshore so that
there will be jobs in Western Australia during construction and more jobs
during the operational phase, that we will have gas coming into our economy to
build and, indeed, that there will be substantial benefits for local people,
particularly to the local Indigenous people, and they have been so brave. The
Aboriginal people who signed the agreements with the state have been courageous
and brave. I admire them for the work that they have done to try to give
genuine economic self-determination to their people. We in this house should be
supporting them, not looking for ways of trying to weaken the resolve of
companies.
By July, we will know what the situation is. Can I also
remind members of one other fact: about a third of this gas field is owned by
the state of Western Australia. It surrounds Scott Reef—so, one-third
state, two-thirds commonwealth. We have a direct say in what happens to that
natural gas.
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