Melissa Parke (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to bring to the attention of the House that Perth has won the right to host LNG 18, the world’s biggest and most prestigious LNG conference. LNG 18, to be held in 2016, is expected to attract over 4,000 participants from over 70 countries, including energy ministers, executive officers of global oil and gas companies, academics, journalists and over 200 exhibiting companies, providing an important boost for the Perth tourism sector. The success of Perth’s bid is further recognition of Australia’s position as an emerging LNG powerhouse. In 2008-09, Australia exported 15.4 million tonnes of LNG worth $10.1 billion and our exports are expected to reach 17.9 million tonnes in 2009-10. In 2009 Australia was the world’s fourth-largest exporter of LNG. This ranking could increase to our being the second-largest exporter by 2015. This is important because LNG is a cleaner fuel that will assist Australia, and our trading partners, to make the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The conference is held every three years with global LNG industry and government leaders meeting to discuss technical, commercial and economic issues relating to the LNG industry. The conference was last awarded to Australia in 1998. Perth is a world-class city for conferences—as we will see with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held there this time next year—and for the exchanging of ideas and is deserving of this opportunity. It is great news for our local tourism operators, who will benefit from the thousands of international visitors who will travel to Perth for the event.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The time for members’ statements has concluded.