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A new survey of Western Australians shows overwhelming support for the state’s gas reservation policy but deep frustration that it isn’t being properly enforced.
The findings make one thing crystal clear: Western Australians expect their gas reservation system to be properly enforced.
The DomGas Alliance believes that with the federal government now consulting on its own reservation model there may an opportunity to address some of the shortcomings in our State policy.
The polling showed that over 80 percent of respondents supported the State’s reservation policy and were concerned it wasn’t being enforced.
It also revealed that 88 percent of respondents wanted action from the State Government to ensure compliance.
The State’s domestic gas reservation policy has been in place for 20 years and requires 15 percent of the state's gas for local use before exports.
A 2024 Parliamentary Inquiry found that LNG producers delivered only 8 percent to the WA market, falling well short of the target.
The enforcement gap runs even deeper at the project level. Recent analysis from the DomGas Alliance shows that Woodside delivered just 3.4 percent of the gas from its Pluto LNG facility to the local market over the last eight years.
When informed that a project was supplying just 3 percent of its gas against a 15 percent requirement, an overwhelming majority of Western Australians (91 percent) said the State Government should act to address the compliance shortfall.
Other key findings from the survey:
· 72% worry gas companies are dodging their domestic supply obligations
· 89% believe gas should be prioritised for WA households and businesses over exports
· 55% expect increased exports to push household energy costs even higher
· 76% are concerned that the Middle East conflict could disrupt WA gas supply chains.
Attributable to DomGas Alliance Spokesperson Mia Davies:
“As details on the federal gas reservation scheme emerge many have been quick to hail Western Australia’s approach to gas reservation and call for our exemption from the scheme.
“This polling shows Western Australians support WA’s policy but they want more from it.
“The DomGas Alliance are taking the view that there may be an opportunity to integrate some elements of the federal model to complement what works here in WA.
“As the federal policy is negotiated, complacency and parochialism would be the worst possible outcome for WA.
“We shouldn’t continue to point to a reservation policy that that looks good on paper but isn’t delivering the outcomes the WA public or industry expects.
“This polling shows that if producers won't meet their obligations, Western Australians expect the State Government to step up compliance and enforcement efforts.
“From 2030, under every scenario modelled by AEMO, Western Australia faces a growing structural shortfall in domestic gas supply. Ensuring gas producers meet their obligations to the domestic market is not a nice-to-have, it is critical to protecting the industries and jobs that depend on it.
“Families are feeling the pressure of rising energy costs, while businesses are increasingly concerned about long-term supply certainty. WA’s domestic gas policy was designed to ensure our LNG success also supports local industry, manufacturing and jobs - but that only works if the policy is properly enforced.
"Producers knew the reservation policy was the price of access to WA's gas. Either they meet their obligations, or the Government needs to make compliance impossible to ignore.
“The survey makes one thing clear: Western Australians expect their gas to work for Western Australians.”
About the survey
The survey was conducted by Quantum Market Research. The sample included 836 respondents from Western Australia, with the data weighted to be representative of the state population by age. Fieldwork was conducted between 1st – 16th April 2026.
