Teal MP Kate Chaney backflips on North West Shelf project after minority government backlash

Teal independent Kate Chaney has walked back her position on Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf project, saying she would now be open to the project going ahead if it was subject to certain conditions.

Teal MP Kate Chaney. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

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Teal independent Kate Chaney has walked back her position on Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf project, saying she would now be open to the project going ahead if it was subject to certain conditions.

Days after stating that locking in the North West Shelf to 2070 as proposed by Woodside Energy was “unacceptable”, exacerbating growing industry fears about the risks to the sector from a potential minority government relying on the support of the Greens or the teals, Ms Chaney on Thursday issued a statement saying she was “not opposed” to the project going ahead.

She said she would support the development subject to several conditions, including “the full social and environmental cost of carbon” being factored in. She also said environmental and Aboriginal heritage impacts must be properly addressed.

“This is not about politics – it’s about making good, long-term decisions. We owe it to future generations to ensure that any approvals are based on facts, science and a vision for WA’s economic future – not scare campaigns,” Ms Chaney said.

She had previously labelled the WA government’s approval of the North West Shelf as a “terrible” decision and urged federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to “knock it back”.

Less than a fortnight ago, Ms Chaney joined a delegation from advocacy groups opposed to the North West Shelf extension, including Save Our Songlines, Friends of Australian Rock Art and the Australian Conservation Foundation, at Parliament House in Canberra. At a press conference held alongside the delegation, Ms Chaney described how the proposed extension was putting the rock art of the surrounding Burrup Peninsula “at risk”.

In Thursday’s statement, Ms Chaney said she would not use the North West Shelf in any future negotiations over minority government.

“The idea that I would hold the country to ransom over a single gas project is absolute nonsense. It’s a desperate attempt to create fear and distract from the real conversation we need to have about our energy future,” Ms Chaney said.

“I want to be really clear – I won’t be using a single project, or industry or issue as a bargaining chip if I find myself being part of any minority government discussions.”

Ms Chaney’s shift came less than a day after polling in Ms Chaney’s seat of Curtin commissioned by the oil and gas sector showed Liberal candidate Tom White holding a commanding lead in the traditionally blue-ribbon seat.

The polling also found strong support for the gas industry in the electorate. That support extended to Ms Chaney’s own declared supporters, with 48 per cent of those saying they were supportive of the industry and only 27 per cent saying they opposed it.

Ms Chaney said she did not support shutting down the gas industry, but believed WA “needs to be more ambitious in planning for what comes next”.

“We have a history of taking on big challenges with vision – just like in the 1960s when long-term planning unlocked WA’s gas industry. Now, we need the same level of ambition to ensure WA isn’t left behind in the global energy shift,” she said

“The choice isn’t between gas and nothing. The real question is whether we’re thinking ahead and setting WA up for future success – or just clinging to the past out of fear.”

Mr White told The Australian he was “surprised and confused” by Ms Chaney’s changing positions on the project.

“This indecision and obstruction simply highlights the risk that the teals’ radical agenda poses to our economy,” he said.

“Let’s not forget that the state government has spent six years reviewing this project and they’ve approved it. The teals are all over the place, and pose a huge risk to local jobs and living standards.”

Samantha McCulloch, the chief executive of oil and gas peak body Australian Energy Producers, said an “overwhelming majority” of WA voters wanted their MP to support the gas industry.

“For years Kate Chaney has aligned herself with the Greens in calling for no new gas projects, and as recently as December she was calling on the federal government to ‘knock back’ the North West Shelf approval,” Ms McCulloch said.

“Western Australians would be right to be confused about where she stands after her comments.”

Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King said the North West Shelf had been important for the WA economy “on any objective measure”.

“Approvals on this project will be made on the basis of law and proper process,” Ms King said. “Good process is the opposite of dysfunction.”