I understand where you are coming from but the gas going into the LNG plant can just be left alone and piped down the existing pipeline (or small extension thereof) and straight into a gas fired power station - does not have to be converted to LNG. In WA gas goes to either 1) the LNG plant or 2) the 900km Dampier to Bunbury pipeline and straight to power stations or industry like Alcoa.
The cost of converting the gas to LNG and then shipping and regasifying is far higher than just send it down a pipeline. On the East Coast you already have existing pipeline infrastructure. Reservation in WA is on gas reserve rather than LNG because on the LNG front would be increasing costs of companies to expand LNG facilities for domgas supply options and those supply options would have a higher price than simply putting the raw gas straight down a pipeline as they do in WA. You still have to buy the gas (unless you think it be free gifted). In WA reservation means supply but you still must buy, and buying raw gas, a little processed as still needs to go through a small processing facility to strip a few of the impurities out but is still gas, and putting it down a pipeline is far cheaper than buying LNG and regasifying it. Attached below is a link to WA policy.
Gorgon/Wheatstone are caught by this policy for example. http://www.dsd.wa.gov.au/what-we-do/advise-on-economic-policy/domestic-gas-policy
The South Australian plan, just before the election, IMO is admittance renewables have been a disaster for the economy there and they don't want blackouts to remind voters before the next election. I notice the Greens are not saying anything about it the hypocrites. having destroyed manufacturing there given electricity costs and reliable energy supplies are a key to viability at Whyalla renewables as a base load option does not work (base load right now can only be reliably supplied from gas and coal and nuclear, but we don't have nuclear so need gas and coal).
