Leaked letter reveals growing Labor rift over Kimberley fracking

A leaked letter written by a West Australian Labor MP has highlighted the schism growing between party members over leaving a small portion of the state open to oil and gas companies interested in fracking.

Federal Member for Fremantle Josh Wilson has become the first Labor minister based in WA to reveal he has concerns over the possibility of fracking being undertaken in the Kimberley – the only region of the state where a moratorium on the practice is not in place.

And environment groups have said they have been made aware of more Labor MPs pushing for a ban internally.

Wilson wrote to a member of his electorate on Wednesday after they called his office to discuss concerns about Black Mountain Energy’s Valhalla gas project proposal in the Kimberley, which includes plans to drill and frack up to 20 exploration wells. 

“I share the sharp concern of many in our community when it comes to the significant risks that come with fracking in general,” Wilson wrote in his letter.

“I am particularly concerned about fracking in the Kimberley, with the potential to impact on the Martuwarra/ Fitzroy River.

“It is welcome that the WA government has established a moratorium that prevents fracking in 98 per cent of Western Australia – but clearly the Kimberley is the missing piece in terms of protecting the West Australian environment, water systems, and First Nations rights/ culture from this kind of intrusive and unnecessary method.”

He also wrote that the WA Labor State Conference, held in November 2025, had passed a resolution calling for the moratorium to be extended to the Kimberley, and that he strongly supported that position.

“While it’s important to note that the current proposal is limited to exploration and appraisal activities only … that doesn’t in any way diminish the serious concerns about the impacts of exploration drilling itself and concerns about the way in which an exploration approval could lead to a fracking operation in the Kimberley,” Wilson said.

He is the first WA Labor MP to provide strong opposition to fracking in the Kimberley.

The process of hydraulic fracturing, known commonly as fracking, involves using water pressure down a pipe to fracture rock formations deep underground, to release the gas trapped inside.

Back in May, Premier Roger Cook told the Australian Financial Review  that WA could be forced to start fracking the Kimberley if Woodside’s Browse gas project was not developed – a stance he doubled down on in budget estimates that same day.

“There are decisions coming for the state into the future. Our (Australian Energy Market Operator) projects a gas shortfall in the early 2030s and as a state, we need to come to a decision about what that means,” he told estimates.

“If not Browse, then does something else make up that shortfall?”

WA’s environmental watchdog also green lit the Valhalla project, sparking more than 8000 appeals which are now under review.

Lock the Gate WA coordinator Simone van Hattem said that decision from the Environmental Protection Authority had sparked one of the biggest grassroots campaigns in Australia.

“Fracking in the Kimberley poses huge environmental risks ... that’s why fracking is already banned in huge parts of WA,” she said.

“The widespread community opposition to fracking in the Kimberley is becoming impossible for Labor to ignore.

“It’s clear that Labor is torn over this because they know it’s a vote loser and because they know opening the Kimberley to fracking makes no sense.”

She said whilst Wilson was the first MP to formally put it in writing, she claimed more than half a dozen MPs had told them they were also pushing for the ban internally.

“Given how rarely Labor breaks ranks, [Wilson’s comment] speaks volumes,” she said.