Marine heatwave
517. Hon Sophie McNeillto theminister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the Premier's comments to the media regarding the unprecedented bleaching and mortality of reefs at Ningaloo and all along WA's Coral Coast during our record marine heatwave this year.
(1) Is Western Australia the world's second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas?
(2) Is liquefied natural gas a fossil fuel that contributes to global heating?
(3) Can the Premier confirm that the government still considers fossil fuels as a major contributor to anthropogenic climate change?
(a) If yes to (3), is it the Premier's understanding that WA's emissions would have contributed to the devastating marine heatwave, coral bleaching and death reported this week?
Hon Matthew Swinbourn replied:
I thank the member for some notice of the question, which was originally directed to the Premier and was then redirected to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum. I provide the following answer from the Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
(1)–(3) Western Australia continues to be part of the global effort to reduce carbon emissions. This includes exporting LNG from WA to replace coal-fired power stations in Asia. Gas is also critical to meeting the energy needs of Western Australia, which has both the strongest economy in the nation and the fastest growing population in the nation. Gas is also supporting renewables in our clean energy transition, which includes exiting coal ahead of any other Australian state.
