Perth voters favour domestic gas enforcement over more drilling, survey reveals

New polling on sentiment towards the state’s gas and energy sector has revealed concerns about gas drilling and the spectre of fracking from Perth voters across the political spectrum, including One Nation and Labor.The polling, conducted by Greenpeace, found 71 per cent of metropolitan voters disapproved of Woodside’s proposed Browse gas project that would require drilling near Scott Reef, off the state’s north-west coast, as well as the potential for gas fracking in the Kimberley. Of those polled, 88 per cent were also concerned about pre-existing projects.WA conservation groups have been fighting against Woodside’s Browse Gas plans for a long time. Bianca HallThe polling surveyed more 1200 residents across 12 Perth federal electorate divisions – 100 from each area – between June 22 and July 5.While one in five Perth voters believed WA was getting a fair deal from the state’s existing gas industry, half believed the current arrangement was tipped “too far in the industry’s favour”.WA Premier Roger Cook has previously warned the state might be forced to frack the Kimberley unless Woodside’s Browse gas project goes ahead, stating there was a “Browse-sized hole in our energy supplies in the early 2030s”.Woodside’s Browse project has environmentalists concerned given the gas field’s proximity to Scott Reef – a biodiversity hotspot.But the new polling has revealed most voters are in favour of requiring LNG exporters to meet their 15 per cent domestic reservation obligations on an annual basis, instead of relying on Browse or fracking, an option that has not yet been properly considered in WA.Greenpeace Australia Pacific WA lead Geoff Bice said the state government “should be encouraged that Perth voters across the political spectrum want environmental protection prioritised over new fossil fuels”.“Woodside has asked for approval from the state and federal governments to drill for gas and oil condensate at Scott Reef, even though the proposal risks a catastrophic oil spill that could destroy the ancient reef and ecosystem,” he said.“Perth voters want to see a faster switch to renewable energy and better domestic returns from existing gas projects rather than new projects approved, and over two thirds support a renewable energy target.“The people of Perth are fed up with getting a raw deal out of the gas industry and want the Cook Government to get on the right side of the energy transition.”Woodside refused to comment on the report, but said the Browse project could “coexist with the marine environment”.“Woodside has made clear commitments, informed by credible science that are designed to manage and minimise potential impacts, with clear objectives and controls,” a spokesperson for the oil and gas giant said.“Scott Reef will not be drilled, mined or built on. The nearest drilling or production facilities would be kilometres away, in deep water, with no physical contact between project activities and reef structure.”The spokesperson said the Browse project represented a “significant opportunity to strengthen Australia’s energy security, support the energy transition and deliver long-term economic benefits for Western Australia and the nation”.“Browse has the potential to support thousands of direct and indirect jobs and billions of dollars in taxes and royalties,” they said.“The tax contributions from Browse mean the gas sector could continue to help fund the essential services Australians rely on.”The government was approached for comment about the polling, with a byelection in Secret Harbour looming this weekend.When Cook announced Georgia Tree – who has been part of the Labor Party since 2013, and spent time working in the office of federal Resources Minister Madeleine King – as the party’s candidate, her background in the resources sector, specifically as a Woodside government relations staffer, immediately came into question.Tree gave a direct answer to a pointed question at a press conference when asked if she was “pro-gas”, given her work history, simply replying: “Yes”.A state government spokesperson said they were putting WA first by delivering jobs and providing affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy through renewables, backed by battery storage and gas.In the first three months of this year, renewables made up 46 per cent of electricity generation, they said, up from 14 per cent when they were elected in 2017.“This has been supported by WA’s domestic gas reservation policy,” they said.“With the majority of WA’s domestic gas supply met from LNG projects, the government supports the development of new gas fields that can create more jobs and meet the state’s ongoing domestic gas demand, as well as demand for LNG from major trading partners as they deliver their energy transitions.“Unlike on the East Coast, WA’s policy ensures gas developed onshore in WA is almost entirely reserved for the domestic market.“The government also recognises the positive impact Browse would have on the WA economy, both through construction jobs and domestic gas supply, subject to it receiving relevant approvals.”Holly Thompson is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in education and the environment.Connect via X or email.From our partners