More than half the gas we export overseas pays us no royalties – none. So, while the export of gas is the biggest contributor to WA’s rising emissions, we’re getting very little back. In fact, WA Labor’s mismanagement means everyday West Australians are paying more on our bills while big corporations make billions. We need courageous reform to safeguard our future.

1. Restore integrity and transparency to government dealings with the WA gas industry

We desperately need more transparency in government dealings with big business. The gas industry clings to its social licence by exaggerating its economic and employment benefits and hiding its negative economic and environmental impacts – all via its major shareholding media companies. Meanwhile, the government fails to stand up for us, and we’re denied an honest conversation about the role of gas in our future.

Working to address this will involve:

• Pushing for an inquiry into the WA Labor Government’s dealings with gas export companies to ensure policy decisions are in the public interest. This inquiry would investigate recent decisions to allow the export of WA domestic gas reserves, the Government’s failure to hold gas exporters accountable for domestic gas contributions, and the influence of the gas industry on climate policy and environmental approvals;
• Introducing legislation to prevent the gas industry owning and controlling media outlets in Western Australia;
• Legislating a ban on former government MPs and staffers working for gas companies;
• Undertaking an independent audit of ongoing and historical damage caused by the gas industry to the irreplaceable cultural heritage at Murujuga, including investigating compensation payable to Traditional Custodians for past harms.

2. Protect our domestic gas reserves and keep our energy prices low

WA Labor has weakened our energy security and driven up our cost of living by opening up our domestic gas reserves for export for the first time. This means less gas is available for WA homes, businesses and industry, and more profits for huge gas companies like Woodside.

Working to address this will involve:

• Reinstating WA’s ban on the export of any gas from our domestic reserves (onshore and in State Waters).
• Restoring the legislated domestic gas reservation requirement for offshore gas fields, and holding gas exporters accountable where they do not meet these requirements.
• Introducing other transparency and accountability measures recommended by the Parliamentary Inquiry into domestic gas that have been ignored by WA Labor.

3. Ensure the gas export industry is paying its fair share

Labor governments are giving away our gas to multinational companies with very little to show for it. More than half the gas exported from WA is given to gas companies royalty-free, and the state is receiving almost no revenue from the billions of dollars’ worth of gas that is exported from our shores every year.

Addressing this will involve:

• Pushing for fair royalties to be paid by the gas export industry at both State and Commonwealth level, benchmarked against the iron ore industry in WA.

4. Introduce a gas phase out and substitution roadmap for WA

Gas is the dominant source of carbon pollution in WA. Our state needs a plan to transition to cleaner and more affordable alternatives so that we can remain competitive, reduce our energy bills and cut emissions.

A Gas Phase Out Strategy for WA would involve:

• A program of assistance, incentives and other measures for household and industry to phase out gas and replace it with cleaner and more affordable electricity produced with renewable energy.
• Supplying our demand for gas from existing gasfields and with no new gasfield developments.
• Consulting with industry and experts on the timeline for a total phase out of gas in WA, given depletion rates from existing gas fields and analysis of economic opportunities to phase out the use of gas. 2035 is put forward as starting point.

5. Protect our environment, water and communities from gas fracking

The Cook Government has left communities, water and landscapes in the Kimberley vulnerable to the highly polluting and destructive gas fracking industry.

We need a statewide fracking ban, as laid out in my climate policies.