Woodside Energy Group Ltd (Woodside) welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the Australian
Government’s development of a
Future Gas Strategy (the Strategy).
With more than 200 submissions made to the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources
(DISR)’s consultation process, there is a growing recognition in the community of the pivotal role of gas at a
time when access to secure, affordable and reliable energy supply is becoming increasingly challenged in a
volatile and uncertain world.
As many submissions identified, gas will play a key role in a responsible energy transition. This was
acknowledged by local and state governments, manufacturers, regional customers, power generators, think
tanks and policy experts, business and industry groups, and unions.
Woodside supports all four objectives of the Strategy and sees them as interrelated goals: providing affordable
and reliable energy for Australians; maintaining strategic partnerships and energy security in our region; and
simultaneously progressing decarbonisation of our trading partners and decarbonisation in Australia.
Australia has the natural resources to support both the renewable and non-renewable energy developments
which will be needed as populations increase and energy consumption rises. These natural endowments
provide Australia with an opportunity to be a regional and global leader in the energy transition.
But we must get the policy settings right to embrace the opportunities presented by a strong Australian gas
industry. The industry needs fiscal and regulatory stability if it is to continue to take investment risks and
develop Australia’s resources.
Government must also provide certainty to workers and businesses, including the Australian manufacturing
sector, on the medium- and long-term role of gas so they can make decisions and invest with confidence.
Woodside’s submission has put forward practical and constructive short- and medium-term recommendations
that address this and other issues impacting the gas industry.
These include improving the regulatory framework to ensure approvals are provided in a timely manner and
with certainty. In this respect, it is encouraging that the Commonwealth and the Western Australian State
governments are working to ensure there is clarity for all parties around the consultation requirements for
offshore developments.
In addition to the importance of gas domestically, governments must send a strong signal to our regional
energy partners that Australia is open for business.
Woodside has recommended the appointment of an Energy Envoy for Australia who can support existing
engagement with trading partners and reinforce Australia’s ongoing efforts to maintain regional energy
security while reducing emissions.
This Strategy and the future success of Australia’s gas industry and the jobs it supports requires bipartisan
support.
Woodside welcomes recent comments by the Minister for Resources1 and Minister for Climate Change and
Energy2 and the Western Australian Premier3 that acknowledge this. Woodside also welcomes recent
supportive comments from the Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Resources, who has identified the need for
policy stability and regulatory clarity4.
