Resources Minister ignores calls for WA carve out to east coast gas scheme

Resources Minister Madeleine King has ignored calls for WA to be carved out of the east coast gas reservation scheme arguing Australia’s largest gas-producing state must be included for a “robust” national framework.

The federal Domestic Gas Reservation Bill 2026 is expected to be debated in Senate this week but is yet to secure the support of the Coalition or crossbench.

Ms King on Monday said Senators were “going to face a choice” and she wanted the legislation to pass so Australia could “just get on with the job” of delivering domestic gas supply.

The Albanese Government has vowed its new east coast gas reserve will put modest oversupply into the energy grid and “push down those prices” for east coast consumers.

“They’re going to face a choice this week about voting for the National Gas Reservation Scheme,” she said.

“I think we found a good pathway through to deliver this enduring framework, so we don’t have to keep coming back here into the parliament to talk about this framework.”

Ms King’s insistence that her home state of WA shouldn’t be carved out completely puts her at odds with WA Labor Premier Roger Cook and the state’s gas sector.

Mr Cook said he didn’t want a federal bill to fix an east coast shortfall problem interfering with WA’s 2006-established scheme.

“Western Australia is not connected by pipelines to the east coast but nonetheless we do have a constitution,” Ms King said.

“WA is part of our federation, is part of our Commonwealth, and a very important part of it.

“And the gas exports that Western Australia has moved along over many decades have been really important to our national economy.

“So, having Western Australia be part of the scheme is a matter of them being part of the Commonwealth and to make the scheme robust.”

The Coalition have also urged the government to leave WA out of the east coast plans, insisting the State has operated its own successful domestic gas reservation policy for 20 years.

The Albanese government wants to pass the legislation through the parliament in the final fortnight of sitting for the year.

Deputy Liberal Leader Jane Hume demanded WA be exempt from the Commonwealth reservation regime, saying the Coalition will also not support the Bill until the government guaranteed the policy won’t discourage investment.

“We want to see more gas in the system. If this legislation that Labor are proposing would mean less gas investment, less gas for Australians, that simply isn’t good enough,” Senator Hume told News24 on Monday.

“We want to see a gas reservation, certainly, but there are changes that need to be made. West Australia should be carved out. It’s an east coast gas problem that we have, and there should be a specific east coast solution.

“Most importantly, we do not want to do anything that would deter future investment in gas and Australia.”

Ms King insisted there had been lengthy and appropriate consultation on the issue, and while acknowledging that the Senate “decides its own destiny” she urged parties to “make sure this happens”.

“It’s a really significant economic reform. It is a reform that has undergone some of the most extensive consultation of anything I can recall,” she said.

“I feel every voice has been heard.

“The government has made decisions and I accept that not everyone is happy with absolutely everything.”

She said negotiations were still ongoing and that the government “will be working through some amendments”.

“But there are a few discussions to be had,” she said.

“I’m really appreciative of the willingness of the Opposition to talk with us about this.”