DOMESTIC GAS POLICY —
LNG JOBS TASK FORCE REPORT
591. Mr W.R. MARMION to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the Premier explain to the house how a report costing $137 000 of taxpayers'
money looking into the opportunities for the
development of gas-intensive downstream industries was not considered
before he made a decision to change the state's domestic gas policy?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
I find again that the opposition
does not listen to the answer. I just explained it to members: a report of some
description has been commissioned in relation to gas. It is not prepared; it
has not been given to government. There is no report that has been given to
government. I just told the member that. Opposition members do not seem to
process the first answer before they ask their supplementary question. It is
written down for them and they do not listen. I cannot be clearer with them.
What the government announced the other day was a change to our domestic gas
policy to ensure that the Western Australian allocation of domestic gas is
available for Western Australia and is not sent to New South Wales, Queensland
or Victoria. I note that the former Premier came out on this issue. I do not
really know why he picks some issues and not others, but he selected this issue
to say that Western Australia's allocation of 15 per cent domestic gas
should be piped to the east. I do not understand that. Why would he say that?
Why would anyone say that? It does not seem to me to make any sense. What we
have to do is make sure we take account of
the needs of Western Australia into the future. We expect that by the end of
this decade there will be a shortfall of domestic gas; therefore, we
have to make sure that we get our fair share for Western Australia—for Western
Australian households and Western Australian industry. That is what the policy
is about. I just wish the Liberal Party would support us for once.
The SPEAKER: Members, I have
just got a text to say that it is Roger Cook's birthday today; is that
right, Roger?
Mr R.H. Cook: It is, Mr
Speaker; do you want to talk?
The
SPEAKER: No, no. It is also Dr
Buti's birthday's today. We have already sung Happy Birthday
to a 100-year-old, but if you add their two ages together, it is
probably the same.