Which companies are under pressure to release sensitive information to the Cook government
The six companies that forced the WA government to invoke emergency powers to obtain fuel supply chain information are among the state’s largest fuel station chains.
WAtoday We can reveal the six unnamed companies that Western Australian Premier Roger Cook and Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson mentioned last week: Viva Energy, which services Shell fuel stations; Ampole; Chevron Downstream serving the Caltex network; Unified; Mobil, which serves 7/11s; and B.P.
WA Governor Chris Dawson declared ‘state of emergency’ to unlock extraordinary powers on Wednesday Fuel, Energy and Power Resources Law, Having Sanderson force fuel suppliers to disclose sensitive information about fuel stocks and supply chains.
Sanderson said the warrants were needed because only three companies voluntarily provided this information.
He told Radio 6PR on Thursday morning that a fourth company had provided the requested information that morning.
Viva Energy, Ampol and Chevron told this imprint that they provided the requested information to the state. BP, Mobil and United have been approached for comment.
“Chevron is committed to working constructively with the Western Australian government and relevant agencies to support continuity of supply to customers and communities through the Caltex fuel network,” a Chevron spokesperson said.
Sanderson and Cook have resisted calls to publicly name the six companies, despite the Prime Minister’s harsh rhetoric on March 27 when he wrote to companies demanding they voluntarily give up the information or be legally obliged to use it. Fuel, Energy and Power Resources Act forces.
“We’re not going to name names, we’re not doing this in WA, we’re working together to make sure we get a good outcome,” he said.
“The decisions we took yesterday, the steps we took yesterday provide them with full protection.”
On Thursday, Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, who backed Cook’s decision to introduce these emergency powers, called on the Western Australian government to provide the names of the companies where this legislation was introduced.
“They said, ‘We work well together’, then a state of emergency is required,” he said.
“I think the people of Western Australia deserve to know. I think the people of WA deserve to know which fuel companies are not doing the right thing and which fuel companies are encouraging the state government to use these extraordinary powers, albeit for the right reason.”
“I think that’s what full transparency looks like, and that’s why I say the government can’t just throw it away when it suits them and not do it at other times.”
These companies were the state’s largest fuel importers, and before the Iran war, excess stock was shipped to a spot market for independent retailers and stations at the end of the supply chain.
This spot market has dried up since the start of the war, leaving independent retailers scrambling for fuel, further exacerbating fuel supply problems in agricultural and mining regions.
Sanderson said commercial information will be used to better understand where fuel is flowing and not flowing in the state.
Cook said he was confident the remaining two companies would provide the requested information soon.
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Hamish Hastie is WAtoday’s state political correspondent and the winner of five WA Media Awards, including the 2023 Beck Award for best political journalism.Connect with: X or email.
