The Shadow Minster for Energy says that it is unfortunate that the Economics and Industry Standing Committee has had to further delay the tabling of its report into the domestic gas policy.
The committee yesterday advised stakeholders that it “has resolved to postpone the tabling of the final report on its inquiry into the WA Domestic Gas Policy. The committee will now table the report on Thursday 15 August 2024.”
Dr Thomas said that while he acknowledged the Committee had received a vast amount of information and was taking extra time to consider it properly, he was concerned that further delays would take any subsequent Government response out to the end of the year and into the election period.
“This investigation was commenced by the Economics and Industry Standing Committee on the 26th of June last year and is about to hit its one year anniversary” Dr Thomas said.
“It was originally going to report by the end of November 2023, but this was extended to the 30th of May 2024. Today this was extended to mid-August.
“A draft report was released in in February this year, but the Committee has delayed the final version “due to the large volume and high quality of evidence received by the committee throughout the inquiry, committee members have decided to take additional time to digest this information.”
“Given there is a large volume of additional information that needs digesting, there is every chance the draft report will be changed significantly when the final report is released.
“My concern is that a Government response is still months away and may not be realised until we are in full campaign mode.
“While Premier Roger Cook was last year promoting the potential export of onshore gas, he has recently appeared to weaken in his resolve on this key issue and is now suggesting there may be no change to the existing ban.
“The entire energy industry needs policy certainty, and trying to respond to concerns in the middle of an election campaign would be a less than optimal outcome.
“Hopefully the Committee’s report and the Government’s response to it can be delivered as rapidly as possible to allow for a full and proper debate on the issue.”
