Overview
In June 2023, the Economics and Industry Standing Committee (EISC) of the WA Parliament announced an Inquiry into the WA Domestic Gas Policy (Inquiry). The Inquiry was initiated in response to a tightening of the WA gas market and concerns from consumers that producers are withholding gas from the market and not meeting their commitments.
The Inquiry focused on how well the Policy’s existing mechanisms ensure the timely delivery of gas into the domestic market and the transparency of both supply and prices of gas. It also considered the State Government’s role in ensuring that Western Australia has adequate domestic gas supplies into the future.
To inform the Inquiry, the EISC received 41 submissions and 18 supplementary submissions from gas producers and gas users, network operators, regulators, Members of Parliament, labour unions, and environmental groups. The EISC also conducted 18 public hearings involving 39 witnesses, in addition to closed hearings.
JTSI provided a written submission, in addition to attending both closed and public hearings.
The report
In August 2024, the EISC tabled its final report titled Domestic Gas Security in a Changing World: Inquiry into the WA Domestic Gas Policy, in the legislative assembly of the WA Parliament.
- The report highlighted 77 findings across:
- policy implementation and compliance,
- gas market reforms,
- transparency and forecasting,
- future gas requirements,
- opportunities to maximise supply into the future; and
- made 30 recommendations for the WA Government to consider.
