Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert says a build up of police numbers in Broome is a heavy handed response to ongoing opposition to development at James Price Point.

“The dramatic increase in police numbers in Broome will only create more tension and suspicion in the community,” Senator Siewert said today.

“This approach is heavy handed and mirrors the Premier's ongoing behaviour in regards to the James Price Point development. If anything, this has the potential to escalate matters in Broome.

The Australian Greens say WA Premier Colin Barnett’s threat to use State Agreement Acts to lock in the construction of a LNG hub at James Price Point underline his obsession with development in the Kimberley.

“The Premier is seeking to force Woodside and the joint venture partners to his preferred outcome,” Senator Rachel Siewert said today. 

“He is governing in the interests of short term economic gain and industrialisation, in the expectation that a LNG hub at James Price Point is just the stepping stone to the Kimberley becoming an industrial powerhouse.

The Australian Greens say the sale of a 15% stake in the Browse Basin project to Woodsides’s North West Shelf partners further strengthens the case for processing Browse LNG at a location other than James Price Point.

“It makes sense to use existing infrastructure to process gas from the Browse Basin rather than jeopardising James Price Point through a greenfields development,” Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens Kimberley spokesperson said in Perth today.

The Australian Greens have called on Woodside and the James Price Point joint venture partners to reassess their choice of location for the LNG hub after the final investment decision on the project was delayed to mid 2013.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson for the Kimberley & Northern Australia said today that the delay offered yet another opportunity for the project to be moved to a less harmful site.

“Time, resources and money have been wasted on plans to locate the LNG factory at James Price Point,” Senator Siewert said today.

The Australian Greens have criticised the WA Government’s latest attempt to secure the land for the unnecessary development of an LNG hub in the Kimberley.

“To see Premier Colin Barnett take renewed steps to secure the land at James Price Point is very disappointing and will no doubt harden community opposition,” WA Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“Premier Barnett and the joint partners continue to ignore the fact that better options exist for this project, including sending the LNG to the Pilbara to utilise existing infrastructure.

The joint venture partners of the proposed gas hub at James Price Point must be growing increasingly frustrated with the project, the Australian Greens said today.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on the Kimberley says that the joint venture partners should be looking for alternative development locations.

“It is clear that other locations offer a better alternative than James Price Point,” Senator Siewert said today.

“A new site should be chosen so that development does not compromise culture, heritage or the environment.

The Australian Greens have called on Federal Minister Martin Ferguson to take a ‘step back’ from his prevailing efforts to locate a LNG hub on WA’s Kimberley Coast.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on the Kimberley said today that the Federal Government shared the blame for a compromised negotiations process with the area’s Traditional Owners.

“Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has shown an unabashed commitment to delivering a gas hub on the Kimberley coast, irrespective of the fact that more suitable locations exist,” said Senator Siewert.

Australian Greens spokesperson on the Kimberley, Senator Rachel Siewert, says today’s Supreme Court ruling must lead to a complete review of the development of an LNG hub at James Price Point.

“The companies now have the perfect opportunity to reconsider the location of the Hub and move it away from James Price Point,” Senator Siewert said today.

“The state and Federal Governments must also seriously reconsider their approach to the future of this project.

“Today’s decision emphasises the need to find an alternative site for the LNG Hub.

Woodside should move their proposed LNG hub from James Price Point, despite the pleas of WA Premier Colin Barnett, the Australian Greens said today.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on the Kimberley said relocating the site did not mean that the area’s Traditional Owners needed to miss out on important community investment.