Committee left to find the answers to Government inaction

22nd February 2024

The Shadow Minister for Energy Dr Steve Thomas has welcomed the interim report of the Standing  Committee on Economics and Industry on the state’s domestic gas reservation policy but says that at  this point the report raises more questions than it answers. 

“It appears that after years of Mark McGowan lauding the WA domestic gas policy as the perfect  solution to our domestic energy issues, the State Government has outsourced its assessment and  management of domestic gas policy to a parliamentary committee” Dr Thomas said. 

“That Committee has now described the policy as “no longer fit for purpose”. 

“The Committee has also backed the Australian Energy Market Operator who have said twice in the  last two years that Western Australia is likely to run short of domestic gas, a position the Committee  has described as “credible”. 

“The Committee seems unsure whether Government, industry, or a combination of the two should be  fixing the problem. 

“But that is at least one step ahead of the Government, who haven’t been able to identify any of these  issues. 

“I commend the Committee for recognising the problem and looking for solutions, it’s just a pity the  Government itself hasn’t done that already.” 

Ends.

Media contact: Dr Steve Thomas 0427 908 717