Western Australia Premier Roger Cook faces criticism from conservation groups after he said the state could be forced to begin fracking in the Kimberley region if Woodside’s Browse gas project is not developed. Multiple reports describe Cook’s remarks as implying that an alternative approach to delivering gas supply could involve resource extraction in the Kimberley rather than proceeding with the proposed Browse development.
The conservation groups’ response is consistent across outlets: they dispute the framing of the choice as one that could compel fracking, and they raise concerns about the environmental implications of expanding drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the region. The criticism highlights a wider policy debate about how WA should meet energy demand, manage gas projects, and address potential impacts on sensitive environments.
While the reports focus on the backlash to Cook’s comments, they also point to the role of Browse and Woodside’s proposal as the central reference point. The coverage indicates Cook’s statement has become a focal issue for campaigners ahead of further decisions connected to the gas project and WA’s energy and environmental policies.
