Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Opinion: Ben Wyatt on James Price Point
Ben Wyatt
Shadow Treasure Ben Wyatt says Premier Barnett is putting WA’s reputation at risk.
He said the decision to place a gas hub at James Price Point subverted a process put into place by Labor’s Northern Development Taskforce that would have recommended a suitable site by now.
You can read his statement here:
MEDIA STATEMENT
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Barnett Government puts WA’s reputation at risk
Shadow Treasurer Ben Wyatt today said the Barnett Government’s move to compulsorily acquire land for the proposed LNG hub in the Kimberley will have detrimental effects on the
future of Western Australia’s credibility in the international mining and resources sector.
Mr Wyatt said that Labor established the Northern Development Taskforce in 2007 to determine a single preferred site for the proposed LNG hub in the Kimberley. The Taskforce was on track to have finalised the process with approval from key stakeholders by March 2010.
“The Premier has singlehandedly created the current situation by disbanding the Northern Development Taskforce and by naming his personal preference for a site before the process was completed,” Mr Wyatt said.
“He then ensured that any goodwill in the negotiations was destroyed when he threatened compulsory acquisition. You cannot expect to negotiate with someone and get a fair and reasonable outcome when you are holding a gun to their head.
“The Premier destroyed a successful and inclusive process when he became Premier. He is personally responsible for the delays and now is trying to blame Indigenous Western Australians in the Kimberley to cover up his own incompetence.
“A modern, 21st century Government does not behave in this way and does not conduct business with major international companies this way.
“The world is watching Western Australia at the moment and they are seeing an arrogant Premier playing by the political tactics from the 1980s.”
Mr Wyatt said Labor supports LNG processing in the Kimberley but developers must respect environmental sensitivities and the rights of traditional land owners.
“An inclusive and consultative mediation and negotiation process is the only way to succeed in developing a gas hub site in the Kimberley and the Premier has today destroyed the process started by Labor,” he said.
“Today’s decision by the Barnett Government will have long term effects on any relationship the Government can hope to have with any Indigenous Western Australians for any future development in the Kimberley and across Western Australia.”
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