Inquiry into matters relating to the gas explosion at Varanus Island, Western Australia

Information about the Inquiry

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On 28 August 2008, the Senate referred the following matters to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics for report by 14 October 2008 (the Senate has since agreed to extensions of time to report so the Committee will now be reporting by 3 December 2008):

1. the economic impact of the Western Australian gas crisis, including but not limited to:
   1. the extent of losses faced by business and industry failing to meet production targets due to the lack of gas supplies,
   2. the disproportionate disruption to industry in the south west of Western Australia, and
   3. the nature of contractual arrangements forced on business and industry during the gas crisis and their status since the resumption of gas supplies from Varanus Island; and
      
      
2. the government response to the Western Australian gas crisis, including but not limited to:
   1. the adequacy of the crisis management response,
   2. the adequacy of reliance on one source supplies of gas for domestic markets,
   3. the provision of reliable and affordable supplies of alternative energy,
   4. the feasibility of developing emergency storage facilities of gas in depleted reservoirs or other repositories, and
   5. the justification for any refusals to release relevant facts and documents publicly.

The Committee invites written submissions which should be sent to:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Economics
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

The closing date for submissions is 15 September 2008.

 The Committee requests that where possible, submissions should also be provided by email to economics.sen@aph.gov.au, preferably as MS Word or RTF format documents. Notes to assist in preparing submissions are available from the website https://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/wit_sub/index.htm or telephone the Secretariat on 02 6277 3540, fax: 02 6277 5719, or e-mail at the above address.

 Once the Committee accepts your submission, it becomes a confidential committee document and is protected by Parliamentary Privilege. You must not release your submission without the Committee’s permission. If you do, it is not protected by Parliamentary Privilege. At some stage during the inquiry, the Committee normally makes submissions public. Please indicate if you want your submission to be kept confidential.

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 If you need any further information, consult the Committee's website at https://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/economics_ctte/inquiries.htm or contact the Committee Secretary on (02) 6277 3540 (phone), (02) 6277 5719 (fax); or by email to economics.sen@aph.gov.au or by writing to the above address.

 

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Economics
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone:	+61 2 6277 3540
Fax:	+61 2 6277 5719
Email:	economics.sen@aph.gov.au