Labor backs gas as part future energy mix

"I want to be clear how enthusiastic I am, and Labor is, for this industry," federal Labor MP Madeleine King told an oil and gas conference on Thursday from Dampier, Western Australia.

In the running to be the next federal resources minister if Labor wins the election on Saturday, the MP for the electorate of Brand succeeded Labor's Gary Gray six years ago.

Her father worked for 30 years at BP Kwinana, and her mother and grandmother ran the local drapery store in Rockingham.

"Gas will be part of our future energy mix," Ms King told the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association conference on its final day.

While critics say gas is not part of the energy transition, she said one of the responsibilities Australia has as an energy producer is to extract gas and provide a pathway for other nations to get to net zero emissions by 2050.

"Australian gas will not only help Australia to get to that objective, but also our neighbours in North Asia."

Ms King commended APPEA for supporting net zero climate policies, "even before the government did".

"No one can doubt, of course, the extraordinary enthusiasm of Kevin Gallagher at Santos for what Santos is seeking to achieve in carbon capture, use and storage," she said.

"And the same goes for every other company here at this conference that is working on CCS possibilities."

Carbon capture and storage technology is backed by both major parties to help reduce emissions, but is not yet commercially viable.

Using the technology, coal and gas projects, power plants, manufacturing and heavy industries could potentially capture emissions and pump them into the ground.

Ms King said it was a "privilege" to witness the development of the Scarborough fields following Woodside's recent final investment decision.

Paying tribute to workers in the industry as well as executives in the room, Ms King said she looked forward to working with all companies, whether in government or opposition.

Australian Associated Press