Media release: Industry welcomes Federal Opposition’s commitment to provide more certainty for critical gas projects

Australian Energy Producers welcomes the Federal Opposition’s commitment to expedite consideration of the North West Shelf extension alongside broader reforms to limit activist challenges to approvals and provide more certainty for critical projects.   

Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said regulatory uncertainty and approval delays were a major barrier to new gas supply around Australia and were damaging Australia’s competitiveness for investment.  

“The Opposition’s proposed reforms recognise the need for an effective and streamlined regulatory environment to provide greater certainty and attract investment in urgently needed new gas supply,” Ms McCulloch said. 

“Australian gas producers are committed to providing reliable gas supply to Australians, but open-ended approval processes and activist lawfare are delaying critical projects and putting Australia’s energy security at risk.” 

Ms McCulloch said the North West Shelf extension was critical to Western Australia’s long-term energy security and there was no justification for further delays to the project, which has already undergone six years of environmental assessments and secured state government approval. 

“Western Australia runs on natural gas. Gas provides 54 per cent of WA’s primary energy and 60 per cent of the state’s electricity. The NWS extension is needed to ensure reliable and affordable gas supply to Western Australians, with the Australian Energy Market Operator forecasting gas shortfalls in WA from 2030.” 

Ms McCulloch said the Opposition’s commitment to strengthen consideration of the economic and social significance of projects and limit activist challenges to approvals aligns with key reforms identified in Australian Energy Producers’ policy platform for the upcoming federal election.  

“Natural gas will play an essential role in Australia’s energy mix to 2050 and beyond, but regulatory uncertainty, approval delays and policy interventions have delayed critical projects and damaged Australia’s reputation as a safe place to invest,” Ms McCulloch said.  

“Without new gas projects, Australian households and businesses face higher energy prices, uncertain energy supply, and increased risk of blackouts that will hit every part of the economy. Addressing these risks should be a national priority.” 

Read Australian Energy Producers’ policy platform for the 2025 Federal Election:  https://energyproducers.au/2025election     

Media contact: 0434 631 511