Woodside Browse project: Anthony Albanese says resource sector needed for ‘energy reliability’

The Prime Minister has provided qualified support to Woodside’s massive $30b Browse project, saying “of course” the country needed energy reliability. But Mr Albanese told reporters on Friday that his support was subject to decisions made by the environmental watchdog. WA’s Environmental Protection Authority sent a letter to Woodside in February, telling the oil and gas giant it’s preliminary view was that its $30 billion proposal was “unacceptable”. A final decision on the plan to develop gas fields north of Broome and to pump gas to an existing plant at Karratha is likely to be made next year. State Environment Minister Reece Whitby and Federal Environmental Tanya Plibersek will have to weigh risks to marine life and coral reef identified by scientists against fears Australia could face a major shortage of gas in the next decade before making a decision. When asked at a Perth daycare centre on Friday if he supported the Browse proposal, Anthony Albanese said his Government supported the resources sector as long environmental concerns were addressed. “We of course have environmental laws in place that allow for proper environmental assessment. We support the resources sector, of course, subject to those environmental approvals,” the PM said. “We of course need job security. We of course need energy reliability. “And we need to make sure it’s done in a way that protects our environment. That’s the objective that I’m sure that we share with the Cook Government here.” Premier Roger Cook has said his Government wants the project, which he described as complex and difficult, to go ahead — but not without support from the EPA. “We want it to go ahead,” he said. “Browse would be an important part of not only Western Australia’s gas supply, but making sure that we can assist our southeast Asian and North Asian partners to decarbonise their economies.” While in Kalgoorlie this week, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accused the PM of using environmental laws “to throw the sand in the gears of many of the mining projects,” despite the EPA being a State body. The EPA has raised concerns the noise from the Browse project will impact endangered whales and a nesting site for turtles. It also identified the risk of an oil spill damaging Scott Reef. Woodside chief executive Meg O’Neill said WA needed a “new source of gas” and that the company’s case was “compelling”. “We want to make sure whatever we do near the precious habitat of Scott Reef is environmentally sound,” she said.