News & Analysis // Western Australia
October 2024
Experts warn WA Government of gas price threat from Woodside’s export extension
New Australia Institute analysis shows that Woodside’s North West Shelf (NWS) Extension proposal represents a major threat to WA’s domestic gas market. The proposal is seeking approval from WA Environment and Energy Minister Reece Whitby. Today The Australia Institute is joined by two former WA premiers, Carmen Lawrence and Peter Dowding, and oil and gas
Australia can make speeding fines fair with proportional model: Report
Making traffic fines proportional to drivers’ incomes, as is done in Finland, is a fairer system according to a new report from The Australia Institute, supported by Uniting Vic Tas and Financial Counselling Victoria.
May 2024
WA Gas Royalties Set to Plummet: Budget Analysis
Australia Institute analysis of the 2024 WA Budget shows the meagre contribution of gas royalties to state government revenue will plumet to just 0.6% over the next 4 years.
Gas industry emissions will cost us much more than their so-called economic benefits
The emissions from the gas industry are delivering a devasting cost to our future
New federal approval for giant WA gas project will release 3 billion tonnes of emissions
The Australian Government has approved key infrastructure for Chevron’s Gorgon LNG Stage 2 expansion that will produce 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions over the next 50 years.
New Analysis: WA drivers pay more rego than gas companies pay in royalties
New Australia Institute research released today shows that royalty payments by the gas industry are negligible and expected to contribute just 1.3% to this week’s WA budget.
April 2024
WA’s gas shortage is a joke – at the public’s expense
Can you imagine Qatar or Saudi Arabia panicking about a gas or oil shortage?
Billboard highlights 90% of WA’s gas is exported and mostly royalty free
The Australia Institute has placed a prominent billboard reading “90% of WA’s gas is exported, mostly royalty free” in view of WA’s Parliament, Woodside’s offices and tens of thousands of motorists daily.
March 2024
February 2024
Western Australia’s phony gas shortage
Western Australia produces much more gas than the state needs and any fears of a shortage is driven by the industry to increase prices
June 2021
Woodside’s Scarborough Gas Field Equivalent to 15 New Coal Power Plants, Risks Murujuga Rock Art
Woodside’s controversial Scarborough Gas Field would result in an additional 1.6 billion tonnes of emissions—equivalent to building 15 new coal power stations—and places World Heritage Murujuga Aboriginal rock art at risk of being destroyed, new research by the Conservation Council of Western Australia and the Australia Institute shows. Approvals to process the Scarborough gas field
May 2020
Polling: State Border Closures
New research from The Australia Institute has found that more than three in four Australians (77%) support states closing their borders to interstate travel. The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,005 Australians about their view on state border closures on 27-28 May. Key Findings: More than three in four Australians (77%) support
April 2019
Poll: North/South Divide on Climate Action Exposed as Political Myth
The much-hyped ‘North/South divide’ on climate action is a political misconception, according to new research from The Australia Institute. The research shows that the majority of Australian voters across states and poltical allegiance are concerned by climate change, and want the Government to mobilise on the issue, “like they mobilised everyone during the world wars”. Key
December 2018
Top scientists “strongly reject” Fracking Inquiry emissions findings – call again for ban on fracking
A joint statement by 41 of Australia’s top scientist and experts, published today by The Australia Institute, has “strongly rejected” the WA Fracking Inquiry’s analysis of potential greenhouse gas emissions that the Government relied on to lift the fracking moratorium. Signatories to the joint statement include many of Australia’s leading climate scientists, unlike the Fracking
September 2018
50 experts call for WA fracking ban: open letter
Over 50 scientists and experts, including former Australian of the Year Professor Fiona Stanley AC, Carmen Lawrence, former Premier of WA, Professor Peter Newman AO, WA’s 2018 Scientist of the Year, and Ian Dunlop, former Chairman of the Australian Coal Association and Shell executive, are urging the Western Australian Government to permanently ban fracking in
An Open Letter to the Western Australian Government calling for permanent ban on fracking
PDF of Open Letter can be downloaded in full here. Full text of open letter and list of signatories below. Dear Premier and Ministers of the Government of Western Australia — Unconventional oil and gas development in Western Australia should not go ahead under any circumstances. The consequences of global warming are already extremely serious;
August 2018
Company tax cuts: last priority for WA voters
The Australia Institute commissioned ReachTEL to conduct a survey of 1,093 residents across Western Australian households on the evening of 13th August 2018. Key Findings: 2PP Liberal 55%, Labor 45% 28.6% of West Australians said they would consider voting for One Nation in the Senate, though One Nation primary vote stands at 7.5% (HoR) and
June 2018
WA tax cut windfall
The Australia Institute has analysed the average electorate household benefit* from the income tax cuts announced in the 2018 Budget, as a proportion of the National Average benefit. The figures represent the change in household disposable income (after tax income) as a percentage of change in the national average. “It’s very visible in a state
May 2018
Don’t blame it on the deficit: WA
A report released today by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work shows Western Australia’s recent budget deficit is the result – not the cause – of deteriorating economic conditions.
July 2017
Cabinet Ministers’ electorates strongly oppose coal subsidies
New polling of seven electorates belonging to senior Cabinet Ministers, including the Prime Minister, reveals strong opposition to a federal subsidised loan for Adani’s coal project, and support for instituting a moratorium on new coal mines. The Australia Institute commissioned ReachTEL to conduct surveys of 4,712 Australian residents across the electorates of Wentworth (Turnbull), Cook
May 2015
Australian taxpayers’ slice of $10 million per minute fossil fuel subsidies bill
The Guardian reported this morning International Monetary Fund calculations that world fossil fuel subsidies are running at $5.3 trillion dollars annually, or $10m per minute. In Australia, successive state and federal governments have given subsidies in the form of diesel fuel rebates, infrastructure funding and royalties discounts worth billions. TAI director of research, Rod Campbell,
September 2014
Facts about the NSW Minerals Council Debate
Richard debated Stephen Galilee, the head of the NSW Minerals Council on 7.30 NSW regarding their recent attack on our research into mining subsidies. This material sheds light both on our approach to our research and the disingenuous approach taken by the NSW Minerals Council.
MR: Australia Institute calls on the Minerals Council members to come clean and apologise
The Australian Institute says the Minerals Council members – the large, mostly foreign-owned, mining companies – should explain the attacks on The Australia Institute. The Minerals Council has claimed that The Australia Institute is being directed by a political party. This is untrue and defamatory. The Minerals Council should immediately desist from making such claims
July 2014
What to make of Palmer’s gambit – A message from Ben Oquist
Last week was another big week for The Australia Institute. You might have seen that we launched another major research report, Mining the Age of Entitlement, this time on the $17.6 billion worth of taxpayer support that State governments have given the mining industry. You might have seen Ben Oquist’s name mentioned in relation to
June 2014
Age of entitlement lives on: Report exposes billions in government handouts to mining
Age of entitlement lives on: Report exposes billions in government handouts to mining State governments are providing billions of dollars in subsidies to the minerals and fossil fuel industries, a new report by The Australia Institute (TAI) has revealed. The report exposes the massive scale of state government assistance, totalling $17.6 billion over a six-year
January 2011
Australians struggle to recognise State flags
Nearly one in two Australian adults cannot identify their State or Territory flag, according to new survey results released by The Australia Institute. The Australia Institute’s Deputy Director Josh Fear said the survey results add an extra dimension to the recent push by Former Australians of the Year to change the national flag. While 52
June 2006
August 1998
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