Roger Cook demands WA solidarity to keep ‘hands off’ gas and GST ahead of crucial Senate vote
8 November 2026
8 November 2026
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Roger Cook is calling on his Federal Labor colleagues in Canberra to break ranks and back amendments which would fully exempt WA from the Albanese Government’s contentious national gas reservation scheme.
The WA Premier’s request comes ahead of a crucial Senate vote in the Federal Parliament.
With the Domestic Gas Reservation Bill 2026 having passed the House of Representatives last month, Mr Cook wants WA to be carved out from a 20 per cent national gas reservation scheme when the Senate sits in a fortnight to discuss amendments to the legislation.
The Premier said it was incumbent on all Federal WA politicians to put their State first.
“Gas is an important feed stock for industries like fertiliser production and critical minerals’ processing while supporting renewables and batteries as we become a State of energy,” Mr Cook told The Sunday Times.
“Over the last couple of months we have worked with industry to lobby the Federal government on how they can carve WA out from the national scheme.
“A number of constructive amendments have been suggested that would provide an effective carve out.
“When these amendments are considered by the Senate, I call on all WA Senators — whether they are Labor, Liberal, Green or One Nation — to put WA first and support WA jobs.
“As I have said from the start, hands off our GST and hands off our gas.
Last month, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, Minister for Resources Madeleine King and Minister for Industry and Innovation and science Tim Ayres announced “landmark legislation to secure Australian gas for industry and households”.
That legislation, which forces gas exporters to reserve 20 per cent of extracted gas for the domestic market was referred to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee, with the report due only days away on November 11.
Under the national 20 per cent reservation policy, an exemption for WA would be at the discretion of ministers King, Bowen and Ayres.
Joining Mr Cook’s call for WA solidarity was Chamber of Minerals and Energy boss Aaron Morey who issued this blunt message to WA Federal MPs: “This is a test for every WA politician: are you on Team WA, or not?”
Just recently, the CME wrote to WA Federal politicians asking them to back the carve out from the national gas reservation scheme for WA.
The CME is arguing for amendments that would require the Resources Minister to carve out any State or Territory that has its own well-functioning domestic gas reservation scheme.
The resources lobby believes an objective test, applying equally on the east and west coasts, would keep the Bill within the Constitution while reducing the broad ministerial discretion in the current legislation and improving certainty for WA gas developers.
“WA solved its gas problem 20 years ago. We don’t want a fix built for the east coast to undo it,” Mr Morey said.
“Our State runs on gas. For two decades, WA’s reservation policy has kept local gas cheaper than on the east coast while still bringing new projects to market.
CME estimates $330 billion worth of new WA gas is at risk. If those projects don’t go ahead, Australia loses around $89b in Federal taxes and levies, and around 3800 construction jobs.
“The law should set clear, objective tests, so that a market already well served by its own reservation policy sits outside the national scheme. We accept a Minister will still make the final decision, but that decision has to be based on those objective tests, not on discretion.”
Mr Cook, the CME and Federal Liberals, including Coalition leader Angus Taylor, argue WA should have a legislated exemption from the national policy as it already has a 15 per cent gas reservation policy.
“From the moment the Federal Government started talking about national domestic gas reservation laws, I have been clear about the need to carve Western Australia out.” Mr Cook said. “We don’t want a solution for an east coast problem, threatening investment and costing jobs in WA.
“When the Carpenter Labor Government introduced WA’s domestic gas reservation scheme back in 2006, it was opposed by the Liberals and mocked on the east coast.
“WA’s domestic gas arrangements have consistently delivered more than 20 per cent of export volumes into the domestic market, which is the objective of the federal laws.”
The Coalition is expected to propose amendments to the Bill in the Senate, which would see a legislated carve out for WA.
An amended Bill would then need to go back to the House of Representatives for sanctioning.
With the Greens already calling for Labor to abandon its gas reservation scheme and instead impose a gas export tax, its almost certain the Federal Government will need to cut a deal with the Liberals in the Senate to get the scheme passed.
“The Coalition has been clear that WA must be exempt from Labor’s gas reservation scheme,” Federal Coalition leader Angus Taylor told The Sunday Times.
“The gas shortfall is an east coast problem and requires an east coast solution, not one imposed on Western Australian business and workers.”
The Sunday Times this week sent an email to every WA House of Representative MP and all WA senators, asking them whether they supported a gas reservation carve out for WA.
Every Liberal MP responded, saying they supported the carve out.
Labor MPs and senators either didn’t respond or, those who did, stood by the proposed national gas policy.
Ms King, the member for Brand, stuck to her guns by saying the national scheme “respects both the Constitution and the WA gas reservation system”.
“As a Western Australian, I am very well aware of the benefits the long-standing WA gas reservation has brought to our great State,” she said.
“The National Gas Reservation clearly recognises that Western Australia is a separate and distinct gas market from the eastern market. The Federal scheme will not replace or change WA’s existing domestic gas reservation.
“We are ensuring this landmark national reform, inspired by WA policy, respects both the Australian Constitution and the WA gas reservation system. We have listened to concerns raised through consultation and there are appropriate checks and balances regarding Ministerial discretion.”
Mr Albanese’s representative in Perth, Federal MP Patrick Gorman, said he voted for the gas reservation bill in the House of Representatives.
“I support the work Madeleine King is doing for a national gas reservation scheme to lock in the success of WA and take it national,” Mr Gorman said.
WA Liberal senator and Opposition leader in the Senate, Michaelia Cash said “every single WA Labor MP and senator should be demanding an explicit legislative exemption.”
“Anthony Albanese must ensure amendments are presented to the Senate that guarantee a complete legislative carve out for Western Australia. “Not vague assurances, not discretionary exemptions, but an absolute guarantee in black and white.”
WA Liberal senator Dean Smith said: “WA’s energy security is best achieved by maintaining independence and protecting ourselves against poor energy policy made by the Albanese Labor Government in Canberra.
“Amending legislation in the Senate will force WA Labor senators to demonstrate whether their preparedness to stand up for WA is just a slogan or the real deal.”