Premier Roger Cook to push WA’s ‘leading role’ as home for Australia’s newest petrol refinery

Roger Cook will push Canberra to build Australia’s next petrol refinery in WA, saying the State was the obvious place to build the facility. Ahead of his meetings with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Federal Cabinet Ministers in Canberra on Monday — when the WA Premier will also attend National Cabinet, Mr Cook told The West Australian WA could play a crucial role in securing the country’s future energy needs. “WA delivers 45 per cent of Australia’s export earnings, covers a third of the continent, and yet imports all its fuel, “Mr Cook said. “Industries like mining, transport and logistics rely heavily on diesel. “A refinery in WA would strengthen our fuel security and reduce our exposure to global disruptions. “It is all part of keeping WA strong and continuing to help power the national economy.” The US war with Iran has shone a light on Australia’s precarious position with fuel. Australia currently imports 90 per cent of its fuel and at any one time only has enough fuel supplies for about a month. It has only two major commercial oil refineries - in Lytton, Queensland (Ampol) and Geelong (Viva Energy). In 2020, BP announced it was shutting down its fuel production at its Kwinana refinery. That decision has also left WA compromised, the Cook Government announcing during the war that it would stockpile 12 million litres of fuel at various locations in WA. At the May federal Budget, Mr Albanese announced $10 million to develop feasibility studies to expand the nation’s domestic supply. Mr Cook wants a feasibility study done on WA. “WA has a strong track record of managing energy challenges, and we want to build on that,” Mr Cook said. “Given the scale of our industries, a refinery in WA is a practical and strategic option. “We’re committed to working with the Commonwealth to secure WA’s long‑term energy needs. “Fuel security is a national issue, and WA is well placed to play a leading role.” While in Canberra, Mr Cook will also try and get clarity on the Federal Government’s 20 per cent gas reservation policy, and how it might impact on WA’s long standing 15 per cent policy. “These issues matter to investors and to our trading partners,” Mr Cook said. “They want clarity about how WA fits into the national framework.” Treasurer and Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti will also join Mr Cook for meetings in Canberra on Monday. Ms Saffioti will meet with Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers to reinforce WA’s position on the GST deal ahead of the Productivity Commission’s interim report in August. “WA’s GST deal has allowed us to invest in the critical economic infrastructure and jobs that drive our nation’s economy and national productivity,” she said. “We’re not backing down in our fight to protect our fair share of the GST so Western Australia can continue to be the economic powerhouse of the nation.”