WA Premier confirms gas in the mix for residential energy in his state

A split on residential energy use is emerging across Australia, with WA the latest state to baulk at Victoria’s push to end gas connections.

West Australian builders and buyers can keep hooking up new homes to gas networks after Premier Roger Cook confirmed his government would not follow Victoria’s example and ban the practice.

“That’s not something we’re considering at this point in time,” the Premier said on Tuesday.

“We’ll continue to make sure that we do look at all the elements of that energy transition process.”

The Victorian government will block all new homes from connecting to a reticulated gas network from 2024 in a move to cut carbon emissions.

WA Premier Roger Cook says he backs green energy and supports gas powered homes. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Philip Gostelow

New housing will be powered by electric stoves and heating systems.

Mr Cook, speaking at a press conference, expressed support for green energy but said gas would remain a part of the state’s residential energy mix.

“The future is an exciting one but we need to make sure that we just step through that process carefully rather than making big announcements now that we might come to regret later,” he said.

Mr Cook trumpeted the use of hydrogen in the gas network.

Though the Cook government has not followed the Andrews government on housing, it is committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and will legislate an 80 per cent reduction in government emissions by 2030.

NSW Premier Chris Minns on Monday also ruled out switching off gas for now, saying the state’s industry needed gas as several coal-fired power plants were due to close in the coming years.

“We’re not pursuing that … the challenges in energy are serious in NSW. I don’t want to lead anyone up the garden path when it comes to that,” he told radio 2GB.

“We’re facing a situation where we need gas for industry.”