29th October, 2010 - Premier Colin Barnett’s attempts to skew the gas market in favour of Woodside are inappropriate and smack of cronyism, Greens MLC Robin Chapple said today.
“The Premier’s recent remarks in which he directly advocated for stand-alone gas developments to be integrated with Woodside-dominated projects are entirely out of order,” Mr. Chapple said.
The Premier yesterday openly called for the BHP Billiton-ExxonMobil Scarborough project to be piped through either the North West Shelf or Pluto LNG facilities located on the Burrup Peninsula. The companies involved have previously indicated their preference for a stand-alone onshore or floating facility.
Woodside is the sole owner-operator of Pluto and has a one-sixth share in the North West Shelf facility.
“Mr. Barnett has just demonstrated how low he is prepared to go to curry favour from his mate, Don Voelte.”
“It is well known that Woodside and Voelte have gotten into a mess over the Pluto project in terms of their LNG supply abilities. It is not the Premier’s job to get them out of it.”
“Nor is it the Premier’s role to pick winners in the LNG market – he should be completely impartial with regards to the interests of major corporations.
“Barnett’s comments yesterday coupled with his relentless championing of the Woodside Browse LNG Precinct demonstrate a willingness to interfere in market deliberations.”
“Quite frankly, the Premier’s words and actions carry the distinct flavour of cronyism.”
- For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263
