As my first official duty, I’d like to thank immediate past President Mark Dayman. Mark leaves a legacy of strong leadership and productive engagement with our members and policymakers.
I have worked with Mark on the Association’s board for a number of years now, and have always admired his energy and commitment to getting the best outcomes for our industry.
I look forward to continuing this legacy and stewarding the Association’s exceptional record on advocacy, policy development, services and support for member businesses.
Two new directors have also been elected to our board and I welcome the contributions that Donna McDowall and John Stuart-Robertson will make over the next two years.
APGA’s success is a function of the outstanding work of our secretariat in Canberra.
Cheryl Cartwright and her team work exceptionally hard to deliver great value to our members, not least through the annual convention and exhibition, the seminar and networking programs and the focus on research and technical excellence for the industry.
The expertise of APGA’s secretariat will be crucial over the next few years, as our industry addresses some serious economic and policy challenges.
Our recent name change signifies our emphasis on gas transportation and our intention to take an active role in the often contentious gas policy debate.
The collapse of the oil price and the end of the development cycle means gas pipeline businesses need to become more efficient and innovative in their operations.
To best support the sector through this testing period, policymakers should focus their attention on getting gas to market as quickly, efficiently and competitively as possible, without resorting to unnecessary regulation that will stymie the sustainable evolution of our industry.
The pipeline sector is a fundamental driver of the national economy, transporting energy, water and other products safely, reliably and economically around the country while creating jobs and opportunities, particularly in regional Australia.
A prime example of the power of pipelines to deliver real economic value in the long term – if you don’t mind me blowing my company Jemena’s trumpet for a moment – is the construction of the North East Gas Interconnector, or as it will be known going forward, Jemena’s northern Gas Pipeline.
The construction of this $800 million pipeline and the associated storage facility will create lasting jobs, play a strategic role in realising the Federal Government’s vision for a stronger Northern Australia, and become a cornerstone of the national energy transmission network.
Large new supplies from the Northern Territory facilitated by efficient new infrastructure will also help address many of the competition issues raised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in its recent enquiry into the east coast gas market.
Our commitment to this new pipeline, and the fierce contest to build, own and operate it, clearly demonstrate the opportunities for growth in our sector and the willingness of businesses to invest in long-term, long haul assets when government policies support a dynamic, competitive market for transportation services.
I’m proud to have the opportunity to represent the industry during this challenging, but also very exciting, phase.
Have a happy, safe and relaxing holiday season and I look forward to meeting you at APGA events and functions in the new year.