❓ Opposition questions the Premier's relationship with Woodside, citing potential conflicts of interest and preferential treatment. The Premier defends his position, emphasizing Woodside's importance to WA.
AnsweredQoN 234Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WOODSIDE — RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT
I refer to the Premier’s statement of “closeness” between the government and Woodside. (1) When the Premier claimed “closeness”, was he referring to the two former senior Woodside executives—namely, Mr Pontifex and Mr Wedgwood—who run his office for $350 000 or so a year each and who still own Woodside shares? (2) How does the Premier expect other major investors in Western Australia, such as Chevron, Shell, Apache and BHP, to respond to this? (3) Is the Premier referring to regulatory approvals, such as environmental and Mining Act approvals, when he implies having power over any Woodside purchaser? (4) Why did the Premier reveal the private contents of a private conversation between himself and BHP in relation to its business intentions? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the Premier’s statement of “closeness” between the government and Woodside. (1) When the Premier claimed “closeness”, was he referring to the two former senior Woodside executives—namely, Mr Pontifex and Mr Wedgwood—who run his office for $350 000 or so a year each and who still own Woodside shares? (2) How does the Premier expect other major investors in Western Australia, such as Chevron, Shell, Apache and BHP, to respond to this? (3) Is the Premier referring to regulatory approvals, such as environmental and Mining Act approvals, when he implies having power over any Woodside purchaser? (4) Why did the Premier reveal the private contents of a private conversation between himself and BHP in relation to its business intentions? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
(1) When the Premier claimed “closeness”, was he referring to the two former senior Woodside executives—namely, Mr Pontifex and Mr Wedgwood—who run his office for $350 000 or so a year each and who still own Woodside shares? (2) How does the Premier expect other major investors in Western Australia, such as Chevron, Shell, Apache and BHP, to respond to this? (3) Is the Premier referring to regulatory approvals, such as environmental and Mining Act approvals, when he implies having power over any Woodside purchaser? (4) Why did the Premier reveal the private contents of a private conversation between himself and BHP in relation to its business intentions? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
(2) How does the Premier expect other major investors in Western Australia, such as Chevron, Shell, Apache and BHP, to respond to this? (3) Is the Premier referring to regulatory approvals, such as environmental and Mining Act approvals, when he implies having power over any Woodside purchaser? (4) Why did the Premier reveal the private contents of a private conversation between himself and BHP in relation to its business intentions? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
(3) Is the Premier referring to regulatory approvals, such as environmental and Mining Act approvals, when he implies having power over any Woodside purchaser? (4) Why did the Premier reveal the private contents of a private conversation between himself and BHP in relation to its business intentions? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
(4) Why did the Premier reveal the private contents of a private conversation between himself and BHP in relation to its business intentions? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
(1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
(1) When the Premier claimed “closeness”, was he referring to the two former senior Woodside executives—namely, Mr Pontifex and Mr Wedgwood—who run his office for $350 000 or so a year each and who still own Woodside shares? (2) How does the Premier expect other major investors in Western Australia, such as Chevron, Shell, Apache and BHP, to respond to this? (3) Is the Premier referring to regulatory approvals, such as environmental and Mining Act approvals, when he implies having power over any Woodside purchaser? (4) Why did the Premier reveal the private contents of a private conversation between himself and BHP in relation to its business intentions? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
(2) How does the Premier expect other major investors in Western Australia, such as Chevron, Shell, Apache and BHP, to respond to this? (3) Is the Premier referring to regulatory approvals, such as environmental and Mining Act approvals, when he implies having power over any Woodside purchaser? (4) Why did the Premier reveal the private contents of a private conversation between himself and BHP in relation to its business intentions? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
(3) Is the Premier referring to regulatory approvals, such as environmental and Mining Act approvals, when he implies having power over any Woodside purchaser? (4) Why did the Premier reveal the private contents of a private conversation between himself and BHP in relation to its business intentions? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
(4) Why did the Premier reveal the private contents of a private conversation between himself and BHP in relation to its business intentions? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
(1)–(4) Ah; was that not sinister? Why did I reveal that? Because a journalist asked a question and I answered it. It is as simple as that. Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : So no business can tell you anything? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, look, the member has asked his question. Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : No business can trust you! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will sit down, and the member can ask it again if he wants to. Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : Business can’t trust you. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question, because my comments relating to Woodside in no way relate to people working on my staff—in no way at all. Indeed, my association with Woodside—as indeed does that of many members of this house—goes back way, way before this government. I have known Woodside since the mid-1980s, and I know the people, I know the company, and I know its ethos. The point I made is simply this: if we look at the history of the development of the gas industry in this state, there has been the most significant transformation of the Western Australian economy for probably 40 or 50 years since the initial development of Pilbara iron ore. The emergence of the petroleum industry as the second-biggest sector has not only transformed the industry, but also it is transforming Perth. That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
That has happened over the past 20 years or so. It started in 1984, with the development of the domestic gas plant and the construction of the natural gas pipeline to Perth that allowed the development of the alumina industry and other things to happen. Woodside was the leader of that project. Then we had the export phase in 1989; Woodside was one of the six joint venture partners in the North West Shelf project, and it was the operator and the contact between the project and both state and federal governments. It was, in every sense, the Australian face of the project. I think that has been important not only for the development of Woodside’s projects, but also, indeed, for the whole of the Carnarvon and, prospectively, the Browse Basin areas. I think Australian people feel more comfortable with the high level of foreign investment in that sector because Woodside is a major player—although it is a mid-level, mid-tier petroleum company by world standards—that has its headquarters in Western Australia and is an Australian-owned company. I think it is important to preserve that. The point I made to the industry was simply as I expressed—hands off Woodside. Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr E.S. Ripper : Or what? Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : What are you going to do to approvals? The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Hands off Woodside” was my message when I had an opportunity to speak to the whole industry. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ll treat companies differently depending on whether you like them or not. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time I will try to answer the question, although I know that comprehension of the answer might be a challenge for the opposition. Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : I knew the history; I understood the history. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : When I said “Hands off Woodside”, I was saying to the industry that it needs to understand that Woodside is important to wider governmental and public community support for the industry because it is the Australian participant in the largest undeveloped gas resource in the Asia–Pacific region. Australian and government confidence is important for that. My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
My message to the companies is to develop resources, find more gas, build LNG projects and the like, and concentrate on what they are good at, but do not run the long-term risk of reducing Australian participation. Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : It’s very inappropriate. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member’s comment was that it was very inappropriate, or whatever he said: I remember well in the late 1990s — Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr M. McGowan : That’s what you said, my friend! That’s what you said! The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remember very well what happened in the late 1990s, when Shell launched an aggressive takeover of Woodside, the response of the Labor Party was, “Well, we can work with Shell.” I remember it so well—so well! That was its response: “We can work with Shell.” When it came to the crunch for standing up for Australian industry and Australian jobs, the Labor Party threw the towel in!
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.