Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch welcomed the 2500-strong delegation to Perth as the oil and gas industry gathered under the organisation's new name. She highlighted that "our industry and our endless efforts at the frontline will deliver the new energy economy" – the theme of this year's conference, which started in Perth on Tuesday.

McCulloch welcomed the Federal Government's recently announced Future Gas Strategy which "confirmed what we all knew - that Australian gas will be essential towards 2050 and beyond" and said "we have some welcome clarity on the role of gas in Australia's future energy policy."

The new energy economy underscores gas's critical role in supporting the rollout of renewables to deliver reliable power generation, including manufacturing and critical mineral processing needed for net zero technologies.

McCulloch said Western Australia's six consecutive surpluses and five per cent economic growth rate is no accident, and can be attributed to decades of governments and industry working together to unlock the state's potential.

She said Australia has the resources, the expertise and the demand for a new era of growth and gas production, and "Australia cannot afford to miss out on this opportunity."

Minister King highlights the important role of gas

The Federal Government Address was presented by the Hon Madeleine King, Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia. Minister King reinforced the Federal Government's Future Gas Strategy was focused on analytics and facts.

She said the strategy "represents the first time the Commonwealth has carefully examined the future supply and use of gas in Australia as we decarbonise". She said the strategy assessed if and how it could be consistent with net zero targets, while also ensuring access to affordable energy. It also considered the important role of gas in manufacturing within the government's Future Made in Australia policy.

Minister King said Australia was on the cusp of an opportunity as the world shifts to clean energy, with Australian gas playing an important role, also highlighting it will help the nation get to 82 per cent renewables by 2030. Additionally it will provide the high heat needed to refine and process critical minerals, a key priority for the government

Minister King said "this strategy will ensure a national discussion on gas can be garnered by concrete evidence and the latest data."

"Ultimately it makes clear that while its role will change as we bring down emissions, Australian gas will continue to support our economy and our industries, and will help us win the new global competition for jobs and opportunities," she said.

A powerhouse for the world, Whitby's vision for Western Australia

The Hon Reece Whitby MLA highlighted the enormous opportunities Australia can seize in renewable energy, hydrogen, critical minerals, and carbon capture as key to the state's aspirations.

He also made clear gas remains a crucial part of the energy mix, providing flexible and reliable energy, and will be crucial to support hydrogen development and help displace high-emitting fuel sources.

"Western Australia will be a powerhouse for the world with a smarter, greener and diversified economy, a world leader in clean energy," he said.

Minister Whitby noted the need to streamline environmental approvals and reduce administration burdens, citing the government's recent introduction of a green energy approvals unit to speed up the approval of smaller critical minerals and renewable energy projects.

We need to reset the energy and climate conversation

Australian Energy Producers Chair, and Woodside Energy CEO, Meg O'Neill made clear "there is no industry better positioned to ensure Australia's bright energy future as we transition to a lower carbon environment than our industry here today."

O'Neill highlighted the progress made by the industry in the past 12 months, predominantly from Australian Energy Producers' members who have "stepped up with new commitments to deliver domestic supply to both the Western and East Coast markets responding constructively as governments continue to look to our industry for solutions."

She said the advancements had been made "as the world emerges from what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accurately called the most significant global energy crisis in 50 years."

O'Neill said the global instability underscored the importance of the nation's energy producers in delivering safe and affordable energy to power industries and underwrite economic growth. 

A pragmatic approach to the global climate challenge and a reset in the energy and climate conversation based on science, said O'Neill. Industry leaders must also speak accurately and transparently about energy and climate issues, with critics of the industry called to take a factual and data-driven approach.

O'Neill left the audience with a stirring message: "ensuring our industry continues to supply safe, reliable, and affordable energy is not only in our industry's interest, it is in the national interest. As an industry we must work constructively with government and offer practical solutions to the challenges that the energy transition brings. We need to do this so we can keep powering human progress and improving lives".

Australia has an important role to play in the "whirlpool" of Indo-Pacific

One of Australia's most eminent and respected figures, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK AC (Mil) CVO MC (Retd), the 26th Governor-General of Australia, highlighted Australia's vulnerabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.

Sir Peter said the uncertainty of the current era emphasised Australia's important role in the region. He described the need for a comprehensive approach to address complex geopolitical tensions, highlighting China's unpredictability could pose a threat to neighbouring countries, including Australia