Carbon-cutting gas pipeline proposed in Australia

An Australian minister has proposed an alternative to carbon tax in the form of a cross-country gas pipeline, it has been reported.

The installation of a pipeline connecting central Australia's gas reserves with those of the northwest coast would help decrease the country's carbon emissions, claimed Colin Barnett, western Australian premier.

He added that it would also be "easier" than introducing carbon tax.

A pipeline has never been installed to date due to numerous issues, including costs and land access, reported Bloomberg.

Mr Barnett also criticised a proposal from the government to introduce a carbon-trading system and said: "What the federal government is proposing is extraordinarily complicated; it's not understood by the industry let alone the community."

Earlier today, the state opposition party called for an investigation into a gas explosion that occurred in June at Apache Energy's Varanus Island plant and resulted in the cutting off of one-third of the state's gas supplies.