james price point, page-4

A little more on the subject.

Gas hub hot in Kimberley result

Premier Colin Barnett remains firm on the Kimberley gas project going ahead, despite the anti-hub Greens making it a close contest in the seat.

With 52.4 per cent of the vote counted before tallying was suspended on Saturday night, the Liberals led in the Kimberley with 26.48 per cent followed by the Greens with 25.88 per cent.

Labor had 21.61 per cent of the vote and Liberal coalition partners the Nationals had 20.85 per cent.

While Mr Barnett said the results so far showed Labor couldn't take indigenous votes in the Kimberley for granted, former federal Greens leader Bob Brown said the numbers revealed a protest vote against the Liberals.

Although the seat result was still up in the air, the pro-development premier had been sent a strong message about his forceful approach to the Woodside-led project, Dr Brown said.

“It's a huge statement by the people of Broome and the Kimberley that they don't want the gas hub,” he told AAP.

While Mr Barnett's victory at Saturday's state election was resounding, voters had signalled he had “got just about everything right” - except the gas hub, Dr Brown said.

“Very clearly, they don't want that.”

Dr Brown said the Greens could still win the seat, and it was one of the party's biggest votes ever in WA.

He vowed to emphasise the voters' message with federal Environment Minister Tony Burke, other federal political leaders and Woodside.

But Mr Barnett remained firm.

He acknowledged some were passionately opposed to the project.

“It's also the case that James Price Point is 60km to the north of Broome - it's an isolated location,” he told ABC radio.

“It's going to provide great economic and social benefits, and not have a permanent long-term damaging affect on the environment.”

Mr Barnett said young indigenous leaders in the Kimberley were increasingly interested in economic independence and the benefits that brought.
“Less philosophical, less ideological, more pragmatic,” the premier said.