❓ The Premier discusses the Ministerial Council on Energy's consideration of domestic gas supply, highlighting WA's push for a 15% reservation policy and criticising the federal government's opposition to it, particularly Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane's stance on exporting all gas production.
AnsweredQoN 809Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DOMESTIC GAS RESERVATION - MINISTERIAL COUNCIL ON ENERGY
Can the Premier advise the house of the position of the Ministerial Council on Energy on the issue of domestic gas reservation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
Can the Premier advise the house of the position of the Ministerial Council on Energy on the issue of domestic gas reservation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question about the Ministerial Council on Energy. I have spoken in this chamber before about the Western Australian position on securing long-term energy supplies. I have also pointed out the hostile reaction from the federal government to that position. It is absurd that the federal government takes such a position on domestic gas supplies for Western Australia - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the Premier to take his seat. Therein lies the problem with interjections. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - especially, in the context of the current worldwide debate on energy supplies, not only for the future of the Western Australian, Australian and world economies but also for the debate on climate change, greenhouse gas issues and so on. The federal government is taking a completely hostile and utterly ridiculous approach to very sound, commonsense policy decisions by the Western Australian government. The Ministerial Council on Energy met on Friday last week in Sydney. I point out that the federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, is the chair of that council. Among the range of issues discussed was long-term domestic gas supply. Part of the communiqué issued at the end of that meeting reads as follows, according to my notes - o Ministers recognised the increasing importance of gas as a domestic energy source and as an export commodity. o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs. It is breathtaking that we get this sort of “emission” from a ministerial council, chaired by Ian Macfarlane; nevertheless I welcome it. The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question about the Ministerial Council on Energy. I have spoken in this chamber before about the Western Australian position on securing long-term energy supplies. I have also pointed out the hostile reaction from the federal government to that position. It is absurd that the federal government takes such a position on domestic gas supplies for Western Australia - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the Premier to take his seat. Therein lies the problem with interjections. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - especially, in the context of the current worldwide debate on energy supplies, not only for the future of the Western Australian, Australian and world economies but also for the debate on climate change, greenhouse gas issues and so on. The federal government is taking a completely hostile and utterly ridiculous approach to very sound, commonsense policy decisions by the Western Australian government. The Ministerial Council on Energy met on Friday last week in Sydney. I point out that the federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, is the chair of that council. Among the range of issues discussed was long-term domestic gas supply. Part of the communiqué issued at the end of that meeting reads as follows, according to my notes - o Ministers recognised the increasing importance of gas as a domestic energy source and as an export commodity. o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs. It is breathtaking that we get this sort of “emission” from a ministerial council, chaired by Ian Macfarlane; nevertheless I welcome it. The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
I thank the member for the question about the Ministerial Council on Energy. I have spoken in this chamber before about the Western Australian position on securing long-term energy supplies. I have also pointed out the hostile reaction from the federal government to that position. It is absurd that the federal government takes such a position on domestic gas supplies for Western Australia - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the Premier to take his seat. Therein lies the problem with interjections. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - especially, in the context of the current worldwide debate on energy supplies, not only for the future of the Western Australian, Australian and world economies but also for the debate on climate change, greenhouse gas issues and so on. The federal government is taking a completely hostile and utterly ridiculous approach to very sound, commonsense policy decisions by the Western Australian government. The Ministerial Council on Energy met on Friday last week in Sydney. I point out that the federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, is the chair of that council. Among the range of issues discussed was long-term domestic gas supply. Part of the communiqué issued at the end of that meeting reads as follows, according to my notes - o Ministers recognised the increasing importance of gas as a domestic energy source and as an export commodity. o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs. It is breathtaking that we get this sort of “emission” from a ministerial council, chaired by Ian Macfarlane; nevertheless I welcome it. The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the Premier to take his seat. Therein lies the problem with interjections. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - especially, in the context of the current worldwide debate on energy supplies, not only for the future of the Western Australian, Australian and world economies but also for the debate on climate change, greenhouse gas issues and so on. The federal government is taking a completely hostile and utterly ridiculous approach to very sound, commonsense policy decisions by the Western Australian government. The Ministerial Council on Energy met on Friday last week in Sydney. I point out that the federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, is the chair of that council. Among the range of issues discussed was long-term domestic gas supply. Part of the communiqué issued at the end of that meeting reads as follows, according to my notes - o Ministers recognised the increasing importance of gas as a domestic energy source and as an export commodity. o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs. It is breathtaking that we get this sort of “emission” from a ministerial council, chaired by Ian Macfarlane; nevertheless I welcome it. The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the Premier to take his seat. Therein lies the problem with interjections. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - especially, in the context of the current worldwide debate on energy supplies, not only for the future of the Western Australian, Australian and world economies but also for the debate on climate change, greenhouse gas issues and so on. The federal government is taking a completely hostile and utterly ridiculous approach to very sound, commonsense policy decisions by the Western Australian government. The Ministerial Council on Energy met on Friday last week in Sydney. I point out that the federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, is the chair of that council. Among the range of issues discussed was long-term domestic gas supply. Part of the communiqué issued at the end of that meeting reads as follows, according to my notes - o Ministers recognised the increasing importance of gas as a domestic energy source and as an export commodity. o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs. It is breathtaking that we get this sort of “emission” from a ministerial council, chaired by Ian Macfarlane; nevertheless I welcome it. The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - especially, in the context of the current worldwide debate on energy supplies, not only for the future of the Western Australian, Australian and world economies but also for the debate on climate change, greenhouse gas issues and so on. The federal government is taking a completely hostile and utterly ridiculous approach to very sound, commonsense policy decisions by the Western Australian government. The Ministerial Council on Energy met on Friday last week in Sydney. I point out that the federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, is the chair of that council. Among the range of issues discussed was long-term domestic gas supply. Part of the communiqué issued at the end of that meeting reads as follows, according to my notes - o Ministers recognised the increasing importance of gas as a domestic energy source and as an export commodity. o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs. It is breathtaking that we get this sort of “emission” from a ministerial council, chaired by Ian Macfarlane; nevertheless I welcome it. The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs.
o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs.
o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs.
The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question about the Ministerial Council on Energy. I have spoken in this chamber before about the Western Australian position on securing long-term energy supplies. I have also pointed out the hostile reaction from the federal government to that position. It is absurd that the federal government takes such a position on domestic gas supplies for Western Australia - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the Premier to take his seat. Therein lies the problem with interjections. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - especially, in the context of the current worldwide debate on energy supplies, not only for the future of the Western Australian, Australian and world economies but also for the debate on climate change, greenhouse gas issues and so on. The federal government is taking a completely hostile and utterly ridiculous approach to very sound, commonsense policy decisions by the Western Australian government. The Ministerial Council on Energy met on Friday last week in Sydney. I point out that the federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, is the chair of that council. Among the range of issues discussed was long-term domestic gas supply. Part of the communiqué issued at the end of that meeting reads as follows, according to my notes - o Ministers recognised the increasing importance of gas as a domestic energy source and as an export commodity. o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs. It is breathtaking that we get this sort of “emission” from a ministerial council, chaired by Ian Macfarlane; nevertheless I welcome it. The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
I thank the member for the question about the Ministerial Council on Energy. I have spoken in this chamber before about the Western Australian position on securing long-term energy supplies. I have also pointed out the hostile reaction from the federal government to that position. It is absurd that the federal government takes such a position on domestic gas supplies for Western Australia - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the Premier to take his seat. Therein lies the problem with interjections. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - especially, in the context of the current worldwide debate on energy supplies, not only for the future of the Western Australian, Australian and world economies but also for the debate on climate change, greenhouse gas issues and so on. The federal government is taking a completely hostile and utterly ridiculous approach to very sound, commonsense policy decisions by the Western Australian government. The Ministerial Council on Energy met on Friday last week in Sydney. I point out that the federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, is the chair of that council. Among the range of issues discussed was long-term domestic gas supply. Part of the communiqué issued at the end of that meeting reads as follows, according to my notes - o Ministers recognised the increasing importance of gas as a domestic energy source and as an export commodity. o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs. It is breathtaking that we get this sort of “emission” from a ministerial council, chaired by Ian Macfarlane; nevertheless I welcome it. The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the Premier to take his seat. Therein lies the problem with interjections. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - especially, in the context of the current worldwide debate on energy supplies, not only for the future of the Western Australian, Australian and world economies but also for the debate on climate change, greenhouse gas issues and so on. The federal government is taking a completely hostile and utterly ridiculous approach to very sound, commonsense policy decisions by the Western Australian government. The Ministerial Council on Energy met on Friday last week in Sydney. I point out that the federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, is the chair of that council. Among the range of issues discussed was long-term domestic gas supply. Part of the communiqué issued at the end of that meeting reads as follows, according to my notes - o Ministers recognised the increasing importance of gas as a domestic energy source and as an export commodity. o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs. It is breathtaking that we get this sort of “emission” from a ministerial council, chaired by Ian Macfarlane; nevertheless I welcome it. The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the Premier to take his seat. Therein lies the problem with interjections. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - especially, in the context of the current worldwide debate on energy supplies, not only for the future of the Western Australian, Australian and world economies but also for the debate on climate change, greenhouse gas issues and so on. The federal government is taking a completely hostile and utterly ridiculous approach to very sound, commonsense policy decisions by the Western Australian government. The Ministerial Council on Energy met on Friday last week in Sydney. I point out that the federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, is the chair of that council. Among the range of issues discussed was long-term domestic gas supply. Part of the communiqué issued at the end of that meeting reads as follows, according to my notes - o Ministers recognised the increasing importance of gas as a domestic energy source and as an export commodity. o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs. It is breathtaking that we get this sort of “emission” from a ministerial council, chaired by Ian Macfarlane; nevertheless I welcome it. The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - especially, in the context of the current worldwide debate on energy supplies, not only for the future of the Western Australian, Australian and world economies but also for the debate on climate change, greenhouse gas issues and so on. The federal government is taking a completely hostile and utterly ridiculous approach to very sound, commonsense policy decisions by the Western Australian government. The Ministerial Council on Energy met on Friday last week in Sydney. I point out that the federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, is the chair of that council. Among the range of issues discussed was long-term domestic gas supply. Part of the communiqué issued at the end of that meeting reads as follows, according to my notes - o Ministers recognised the increasing importance of gas as a domestic energy source and as an export commodity. o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs. It is breathtaking that we get this sort of “emission” from a ministerial council, chaired by Ian Macfarlane; nevertheless I welcome it. The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
o Increasing demand for gas in the domestic market and the rapid growth of the LNG export market have made the future demand and supply of gas a priority issue for both the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR). o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs.
o The MCE has agreed to participate in a joint working group with MCMPR to further examine how domestic gas demand might be met in the light of rising global demand for LNG and the accelerated development of a number of LNG projects. o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs.
o The joint working group will consider issues surrounding domestic gas supplies for existing and future markets, including new gas industries and specifically addressing the issue of balancing the development of resources for export with the supply of domestic natural gas for Australia’s long term needs.
The bulk of Australia’s natural gas reserves are located off the north west coast of Western Australia. One of the main reasons that I and my government have been pushing for a 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is so that we can secure energy supplies for the future. Mr Macfarlane is quite happy about the prospect of exporting the entire gas production off the North West Shelf. In fact, he said that any suggestion that we were trying to intervene in that prospect would severely damage Australia’s economic future. We cannot run the risk of 100 per cent of Western Australia’s offshore gas reserves being sold on long-term contracts to overseas buyers and none of it being made available for Western Australian consumers. Given the ministerial council’s decision last Friday, I hope that the federal resources minister might at least temper his language in any future comment he makes about the Western Australian government’s position. Furthermore, I hope that the Prime Minister and the federal government will not only ensure that he tempers his language, but also will embrace the strength of the policy position being pursued in Western Australia, and support us rather than oppose us.
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