Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 2054

❓ Mr Leary questions the government's reliance on ATCO's information regarding the Albany gas network's decommissioning, particularly concerning cost and verification of ATCO's claims. The government states it has no role due to privatisation.

AnsweredQoN 2054Legislative Assembly

Asked

14 April 2026

Member

Mr Scott Leary

Portfolio

Energy and Decarbonisation

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the Government’s reliance on information provided by ATCO regarding the Albany gas network and ask:(a) Has the Government independently verified ATCO’s claim that upgrading the network is uneconomic;(b) If yes, which agency undertook that assessment and when will the findings be tabled;(c) Has any information been withheld from the Government on the basis of being “commercial-in-confidence”;(d) If yes:(i) What categories of information have been withheld; and(ii) Has the Government challenged or tested those claims given that commercial-in-confidence does not apply as it has been publicly announced;(e) Does the Government hold the following documentation provided by ATCO in relation to the network:(i) cost estimates;(ii) engineering assessments; or; and(iii) asset condition reports; and(f) When will the Minister table all correspondence between the Government and ATCO relating to:(i) costings;(ii) upgrade options; and(iii) the decision to decommission the network?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

14 May 2026

Responded by

Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation

Response time

6 days

(a) – (f)
The previous Government privatised the Albany Gas Distribution System (AGDS). The State Government no longer has a role in owning, operating or maintaining the AGDS.
The decommissioning of the AGDS was a commercial decision made by ATCO Australia as the private owner and operator of the network.

View on Parliament of WA