Why Woodside gas is good for WA, good for all
With Woodside on track to deliver the first LNG cargo from our new Scarborough Energy Project this year and domestic gas to follow soon after, it is set to make an even bigger contribution to Western Australia (WA).
Good for energy consumers, at home and abroad.
Last year, more than one fifth of WA’s gas supply came from Woodside’s Pilbara operations and Scarborough will ensure we continue to support the state’s energy needs for years to come. This includes the use of Scarborough gas as a key ingredient in making fertilisers in the Pilbara, which farmers will use to put food on Australians’ tables.
Good for trade and the nation’s coffers, too.
Across the life of the Scarborough Energy Project, an estimated A$55.5 billion is expected to be generated in direct and indirect taxes.
Woodside EVP and Chief Financial Officer Graham Tiver says the company's tax contribution reflects the value its operations deliver to Australia.
“For the 2025 year, we paid ~A$2 billion in tax,” Graham says. “That was across corporate income tax, PRRT, across excise, across royalties and other smaller taxes.”
“Our Australian all-in effective tax rate was 44% last year. That means for every $1 of Australian profit, we returned 44 cents of that to the Australian people through the Australian Taxation Office.”
Scarborough is a continuation of what Woodside has successfully been doing for more than 40 years: developing and operating reliable sources of energy.
Over the years, billions of dollars have been spent with local vendors and contractors; millions spent on community initiatives in areas where Woodside operates. Thousands of jobs created in the construction and operations of brand-new energy infrastructure, with vendors, contractors and at Woodside itself.
Environmental engineer Jacinta joined the company’s Graduate Development Program almost seven years ago.
Jacinta is one of more than 1,000 graduates who have started their careers at Woodside over the past 25 years.
“Now, I’m one of more than 3,500 Woodsiders based in roles across the state,” she says.
Scarborough is coming on-line at a time when demand for reliable energy, both in Australia and across the globe, continues to grow. This includes energy-intensive technologies and industries that have developed rapidly over the past few years.
As Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King put it earlier in October: “We cannot have a critical minerals revolution here in Australia without a guaranteed supply of affordable gas.”
Moreover, she said Australia needed to continue developing gas for export for regional partners.
Gas exports helped support the energy security of Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, the Minister noted, while their refining of liquid fuels like petrol, diesel and aviation fuel kept Australians moving.
"A successful, peaceful energy transition relies on continued Australian exports of energy,” the minister affirmed.
Looking ahead, Woodside is progressing the Browse to North West Shelf Project, which would develop natural gas resources in the Browse Basin, off the coast of WA, for processing through the existing Karratha Gas Plant.
As Australia's largest undeveloped offshore gas resource, Browse has the potential to play an important role in Australia's energy future.
The project could help provide reliable energy for homes, businesses and industry, while supporting jobs, regional communities and economic growth.
By using existing infrastructure, Browse would help extend the life of the Karratha Gas Plant, supporting skilled jobs in the Pilbara and continuing a long history of contribution to local communities.
Browse could also play an important role in supporting energy security for Western Australia and our trading partners in the Asia-Pacific region as the world moves through the energy transition.
Now that’s good for WA!
Learn more about the Browse to North West Shelf Project here.
