The Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration (DMPE) is seeking feedback from stakeholders on the Discussion Paper - Accelerating WA's petroleum developments - Review of State petroleum legislative framework discussion paper. This discussion paper is in response to the recommendation from the Economics and Industry Standing Committee’s (EISC) final report Domestic Gas Security in a changing world – Inquiry into the WA Domestic Gas Policy tabled in August 2024 and the State Government’s commitment to strengthen the ‘use it or lose it’ provisions within the petroleum legislation.
The final EISC report outlined several findings and recommendations to the State Government, including Recommendation 27 – that the State Government use all measures at its disposal to ensure that no further retention leases or renewals are granted in Western Australia’s offshore waters. If the current title holder is not willing or able to develop the resource now, it should be returned to the pool so that another business can exploit it.
In September 2024, the State Government released its updated Domestic Gas Policy and committed to strengthening the ‘use it or lose it’ provisions within the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 (PGERA) in response to Recommendation 27 of the EISC report.
Following a review of the State’s petroleum legislative framework, titling landscape and current situation, DMPE has developed a discussion paper that proposes policy and legislative options to potentially reform and strengthen the ‘use it or lose it’ provisions within the PGERA and the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982.
DMPE is seeking stakeholder feedback on the proposals presented in the discussion paper, in particular the feasibility of the proposals and any considerations that should be given to transitional arrangements and timing. The department is also seeking feedback on any alternative options to strengthen the use it or lose it provisions and address Recommendation 27 of the EISC report, that may not have been canvassed in the discussion paper.
Consultation closes on Monday 22 December 2025. For more information and to provide feedback, visit the consultation webpage.
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