The Western Australian Government has introduced legislation before State Parliament that will ensure the Browse LNG Precinct is the only site that will process Browse Basin gas on the Kimberly coast.

 

Premier Colin Barnett said the Browse (Land) Agreement Bill 2012 would ratify an agreement signed between the State Government and the Kimberly Land Council on behalf of the Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr joint native title claim group.

 

The Bill represents the first time in the State’s history that Parliament has been requested to ratify an agreement reached between the State and indigenous peoples.

 

“The Bill delivers on the Government’s commitments to limit the use of the precinct to gas processing only, to rehabilitate and remediate the land after the precinct is closed and to return the land to traditional owners at the end of the precinct life,” Mr Barnett said.

 

Mr Barnett said the Browse Land Agreement covering the precinct, 60km north of Broome, was one of three agreements signed in June 2011 which constituted the most significant act of self-determination by an Aboriginal group in Australian history.

 

Key provisions of the Bill include:

  • Establish Browse LNG Precinct as single site for all LNG development on Kimberley coastline
  • Limit use of precinct to petroleum processing, storage, loading, transporting and associated activities - it will not be used for downstream processing or general industrial use
  • Limit life of the precinct to 100 years and provide mechanism to close precinct earlier if it is not being used
  • Commit to transfer of the land to Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr people at end of precinct life
  • Allow port to operate as general port after precinct is closed, under commercial lease arrangement with the Native Title party
  • Commit State to remediate and rehabilitate the land and facilities after precinct is closed