“This report will undoubtedly make a major contribution not only to the greenhouse debate within Western Australia but also nationally,” said APPEA chief executive Belinda Robinson.
The report by WA’s Greenhouse and Energy Taskforce makes 14 recommendations to manage greenhouse gas emissions from the stationary energy sector.
While APPEA has placed ticks against several the recommendations, it has urged a measured response to others that it does not believe serve the best long-term interests of WA or Australia more broadly.
“The industry strongly endorses the report’s acknowledgment that greenhouse is a global issue that demands a global solution, and that emissions should be reduced in a way that avoids severe or seriously inequitable’ economic impacts on WA industry or the community,” APPEA said.
“These recommendations, however, appear to be at odds with other recommendations in the report that, if implemented, would add substantial costs to Western Australia’s gas industry – costs that are not borne by Australia’s gas-producing competitors.”
This could paralyse the growth potential of Australia’s liquefied natural gas industry, Robinson warned.
“I do not believe it would be the intention of any government to load up costs on an industry that has the most obvious and immediate role to play in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.
“On a whole-of-life basis, gas-fired electricity has half the greenhouse emissions of coal. The world should not be denied the environmental benefits that Western Australia has enjoyed for so long through the use of natural gas for electricity generation.”
APPEA called for an inclusive national approach that placed responsibility for policies and programs at the appropriate administrative level.
“There is no doubt that every jurisdiction has a role to play in a coordinated national policy to reduce emissions,” Robinson said.
“It is critical, however, that each jurisdiction focus on those components that they are best placed to action, taking account of their respective greenhouse footprint and economic circumstances.
“If we’re not careful, we’ll end up with a piecemeal assortment of rules and regulations across the country that will not deliver the best possible outcome for Australia. A carbon-pricing regime, energy efficiency programs and rating and labelling initiatives are best addressed at the national level, leaving plenty of scope for positive action in a number of other areas at the state level.”
Robinson said the industry looked forward to working constructively with the WA Government in developing its climate change action plan.
