FLOATING LNG PROJECTS
460. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I understand this issue was referred to in the newspaper
today, but I will crack on anyway. I refer to recent media reports that the
Shell Australia and Inpex Corporation floating liquefied natural gas projects
off the North West Shelf of WA are in the final stages of preparing for export.
(1) Is the state government concerned about the
diminished economic opportunities for Western Australian businesses and workers
as a result of the adoption of floating LNG technology instead of onshore
processing?
(2) Is the
state government concerned about the potential negative impacts of floating LNG
developments on the supply of domestic gas for WA and on state revenue?
(3) Does the
state government concede that overall such floating LNG projects provide little
benefit to Western Australia?
(4) What is the state government doing to ensure that WA gets
a better deal from offshore gas projects?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) As the
member would be aware, the LNG projects in question fall under commonwealth
jurisdiction. The Prelude project is the first and only floating LNG project in
Australia. There are no other floating LNG projects in development.
(2) Western Australia's longstanding domestic
gas policy provides certainty over domestic gas commitments.
(3)–(4)
The Premier has stated repeatedly that he would like to see gas come onshore.
This Premier is committed to jobs and economic benefits for all Western Australians,
including those living in the Pilbara. The government is actively supporting
proposals to bring Browse and Scarborough onshore. Rather than dwell on missed
opportunities by the previous government, the Premier is doing all he can to
ensure that Western Australia enjoys greater benefits from offshore gas
reserves. This government's commitment to economic opportunities for Western
Australians is demonstrated through initiatives such as the local jobs portal,
launched recently in conjunction with Woodside. The local jobs portal ensures
that all locally based jobs that Woodside has on offer will be available in the
first instance to local people, with locals being given preference in filling
these positions.