WA welcomes Latham's plan for a 'gas economy strategy'

7/9/04
Western Australia's gas and gas processing industries could benefit under a Latham Labor Government, with Federal Shadow Energy and Mining Minister Joel Fitzgibbon today promising to develop a 'gas economy strategy' if successful at the upcoming federal election.
In a speech to the World Energy Congress today, Mr Fitzgibbon said Australia was using oil three times faster than it had been finding it and desperately needed a strategy to wean itself from an increasing dependence on imported oil.
He said the increased use of natural gas for domestic energy needs and the developments of a local gas to liquids industry were critical to Australia's energy independence.
Welcoming Mr Fitzgibbon's commitment to the gas and gas processing industries, State Development Minister Clive Brown said WA was best placed to benefit from Federal Labor's policies.
"The Gallop Government has been working hard to attract new industries, new investment and new jobs to WA," Mr Brown said.
"We have effectively doubled the size of the WA natural gas industry, following our granting of in-principle approval to the Gorgon Gas Development and we are installing $183million of common user infrastructure on the Burrup Peninsula to attract gas-processing projects, including gas to liquids projects. We have already successfully attracted one gas-processing project, with the $630million Burrup Fertilisers project already under construction.
"With Federal Labor committed to developing a 'gas economy strategy' that prioritises both the greater use of natural gas for domestic gas purposes and the development of a local gas to liquids industry, WA's economic performance could get even stronger under a Latham Labor Government."
Mr Brown said Federal Labor's $500million Energy Fuels Transition Fund could provide incentives for industry to invest in the gas and gas processing industries.
Federal Labor had also recently committed to working with the State on providing economic infrastructure to support gas and gas processing projects, following eight years of gridlock between the State and the Howard Government.
Minister's office: 9222 9699