Pete Milne
@petemilne.bsky.social
I cover energy, industry and climate in WA at www.boilingcold.com.au
Independent, informed and inquisitive news and analysis as WA tackles the problems of climate change and the opportunities of the energy transition.
Independent, informed and inquisitive news and analysis as WA tackles the problems of climate change and the opportunities of the energy transition.
US miner Alcoa illegally cleared the habitat of endangered black cockatoos for six years. From AAP.
www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoa-slugge...
www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoa-slugge...
Alcoa slugged $55m over illegal jarrah forest clearing
The US miner illegally destroyed the habitat of endangered black cockatoos for six years.
www.boilingcold.com.au
February 18, 2026 at 5:55 AM
US miner Alcoa illegally cleared the habitat of endangered black cockatoos for six years. From AAP.
www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoa-slugge...
www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoa-slugge...
An oil spill off WA in December was deemed a rare event by Vermilion Energy; now it wants to drill seven wells, again judging the risk of an oil spill to be rare.
Wandoo has been shut down by the regulator, NOPSEMA, until it is made safe.
www.boilingcold.com.au/regulator-sh...
Wandoo has been shut down by the regulator, NOPSEMA, until it is made safe.
www.boilingcold.com.au/regulator-sh...
Regulator shuts Wandoo oil field off WA after spill
Canadian firm Vermilion judged the chance of the December spill as "rare" - the same probability it claims for seven planned exploration wells that could affect anywhere along the Pilbara coast.
www.boilingcold.com.au
February 13, 2026 at 7:45 AM
An oil spill off WA in December was deemed a rare event by Vermilion Energy; now it wants to drill seven wells, again judging the risk of an oil spill to be rare.
Wandoo has been shut down by the regulator, NOPSEMA, until it is made safe.
www.boilingcold.com.au/regulator-sh...
Wandoo has been shut down by the regulator, NOPSEMA, until it is made safe.
www.boilingcold.com.au/regulator-sh...
Reposted by Pete Milne
The job.
My @smh cartoon.
My @smh cartoon.
February 11, 2026 at 8:58 PM
The job.
My @smh cartoon.
My @smh cartoon.
Chief executive of Alcoa Bill Oplinger told Wall Street the miner had responded to all 60,000 comments on its crucial WA expansion plans— in fact, it responded to less than ten, and some were unacceptable.
www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoa-mislea...
www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoa-mislea...
Alcoa misleads investors on crucial WA mining approvals
Chief executive Bill Oplinger told Wall Street the miner had responded to all 60,000 comments on its WA expansion plans—in fact, it responded to fewer than 10, and some were unacceptable.
www.boilingcold.com.au
February 10, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Chief executive of Alcoa Bill Oplinger told Wall Street the miner had responded to all 60,000 comments on its crucial WA expansion plans— in fact, it responded to less than ten, and some were unacceptable.
www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoa-mislea...
www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoa-mislea...
Reposted by Pete Milne
You know, it’s just possible to feel really bad about the violent deaths of Israeli Jews, the genocide in Palestine and the deaths of Australian Jews all while being neither anti-Semitic or Islamophobic.
Somehow that has become impossible for the political class.
Somehow that has become impossible for the political class.
February 8, 2026 at 9:55 PM
You know, it’s just possible to feel really bad about the violent deaths of Israeli Jews, the genocide in Palestine and the deaths of Australian Jews all while being neither anti-Semitic or Islamophobic.
Somehow that has become impossible for the political class.
Somehow that has become impossible for the political class.
WA fracking safeguards are half done and five years late as the state government prepares to decide on Black Mountain Energy’s plan for 20 fracking wells in the Kimberley near the Fitzroy River.
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-fracking-...
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-fracking-...
WA fracking safeguards are half done and five years late
The WA government will soon decide whether Black Mountain Energy can frack 20 wells near the Kimberley's Fitzroy River, but promised measures to protect the environment and the rights of local people ...
www.boilingcold.com.au
February 5, 2026 at 4:14 AM
WA fracking safeguards are half done and five years late as the state government prepares to decide on Black Mountain Energy’s plan for 20 fracking wells in the Kimberley near the Fitzroy River.
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-fracking-...
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-fracking-...
Alcoa chief executive Bill Oplinger flags "pretty aggressive" cost cuts at its alumina refineries in response to lower prices, with its still-profitable large Pinjarra and Wagerup plants unlikely to be unscathed.
www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoa-flags-...
www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoa-flags-...
Alcoa flags 'aggressive' cost cuts at alumina refineries
Alcoa chief executive Bill Oplinger told Wall Street the US aluminium specialist could take strong action to boost profits from alumina, most of which it refines in Western Australia.
www.boilingcold.com.au
January 30, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Alcoa chief executive Bill Oplinger flags "pretty aggressive" cost cuts at its alumina refineries in response to lower prices, with its still-profitable large Pinjarra and Wagerup plants unlikely to be unscathed.
www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoa-flags-...
www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoa-flags-...
🏆RECORD: WA's power grid hit 91% renewable energy on Dec 20
⚡ 1,225MW of new batteries driving the transition
💰 Wholesale prices down 13% to $69.55/MWh
🏭 Coal & gas generation falling fast
Full story 👇
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-renewable...
⚡ 1,225MW of new batteries driving the transition
💰 Wholesale prices down 13% to $69.55/MWh
🏭 Coal & gas generation falling fast
Full story 👇
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-renewable...
WA Renewable Energy Hits 91% Record, Prices Fall 13%
Western Australia's electricity grid reached 91% renewable energy on December 20, 2025—a remarkable milestone driven by 1,225MW of battery storage added in just 3 months. This achievement demonstrates...
www.boilingcold.com.au
January 29, 2026 at 1:24 AM
🏆RECORD: WA's power grid hit 91% renewable energy on Dec 20
⚡ 1,225MW of new batteries driving the transition
💰 Wholesale prices down 13% to $69.55/MWh
🏭 Coal & gas generation falling fast
Full story 👇
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-renewable...
⚡ 1,225MW of new batteries driving the transition
💰 Wholesale prices down 13% to $69.55/MWh
🏭 Coal & gas generation falling fast
Full story 👇
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-renewable...
The WA EPA has recommended that Black Mountain Energy's plans to frack for gas in the Kimberley be approved by the WA Government.
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-environme...
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-environme...
WA environmental watchdog backs Kimberley fracking
The green light for Black Mountain Energy comes just months after Federal experts said its environmental risk assessment was "limited and disjointed" and reached "largely unsupported" conclusions.
www.boilingcold.com.au
January 20, 2026 at 2:40 AM
The WA EPA has recommended that Black Mountain Energy's plans to frack for gas in the Kimberley be approved by the WA Government.
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-environme...
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-environme...
The WA government is investigating if one dead tree could halt Alcoa's mining If the US miner is found to have mined too close to a large jarrah tree, it would trigger an automatic cancellation of its right to mine much of its lease.
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-governmen...
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-governmen...
One dead tree could halt Alcoa's bauxite mining in WA
If the US miner is found to have mined too close to a large jarrah tree, it would trigger an automatic cancellation of its right to mine much of its lease.
www.boilingcold.com.au
January 14, 2026 at 11:56 PM
The WA government is investigating if one dead tree could halt Alcoa's mining If the US miner is found to have mined too close to a large jarrah tree, it would trigger an automatic cancellation of its right to mine much of its lease.
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-governmen...
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-governmen...
Black Mountain Energy conducted a "limited and disjointed" assessment of the risk to water posed by its Kimberley fracking and reached "largely unsupported" conclusions, according to scientists advising the Federal Government.
www.boilingcold.com.au/federal-expe...
www.boilingcold.com.au/federal-expe...
Federal experts slam science behind Kimberley fracking
An independent review found Black Mountain conducted a "limited and disjointed" assessment that came to "largely unsupported" conclusions.
www.boilingcold.com.au
January 13, 2026 at 7:59 AM
Black Mountain Energy conducted a "limited and disjointed" assessment of the risk to water posed by its Kimberley fracking and reached "largely unsupported" conclusions, according to scientists advising the Federal Government.
www.boilingcold.com.au/federal-expe...
www.boilingcold.com.au/federal-expe...
Pilot Energy, responsible for an oil platform off the WA coast, is a going concern, but its accounts report "a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt" on that continuing.
www.boilingcold.com.au/significant-...
www.boilingcold.com.au/significant-...
'Significant doubt' owner of WA oil platform can survive
Pilot Energy is a going concern, but its accounts report "a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt" on that continuing.
www.boilingcold.com.au
January 8, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Pilot Energy, responsible for an oil platform off the WA coast, is a going concern, but its accounts report "a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt" on that continuing.
www.boilingcold.com.au/significant-...
www.boilingcold.com.au/significant-...
Reposted by Pete Milne
Gas reservation on new gas only🤦♂️! A 0% domestic reserve on massive amounts of existing gas and a 25% reserve on tiny amounts of new gas won’t do anything for electricity prices. A big win for the gas cartel. A massive loss for Aussies. #fail #auspol
Government announces domestic gas reservation scheme in bid to lower costs
Chris Bowen makes a long-anticipated announcement about reserving a portion of gas on the east coast for domestic use after a cabinet meeting.
www.abc.net.au
December 22, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Reposted by Pete Milne
Two truths about submarines. 1) Small non-nuclear subs will outperform large nuclear subs in shallow water. 2) Modern affordable conventional subs that can be delivered will outperform costly nuclear subs that never get delivered. #AUKUS #auspol
Shallow Waters, Big Lessons: What the Falklands War Reveals About Submarine Warfare
In the midst of the Falklands War, British sailors hunting for ARA San Luis launched ordnance at the sonar and radar signals of whales, wrecks, and even
warontherocks.com
December 20, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Offshore regulator orders Kerry Stokes' Seven Group Holdings to fix a leaking gas well off the Victorian coast.
A decade of neglect of the Longtom gas field off the Gippsland coast is "an erosion of good industry practice" according to NOPSEMA.
www.boilingcold.com.au/regulator-or...
A decade of neglect of the Longtom gas field off the Gippsland coast is "an erosion of good industry practice" according to NOPSEMA.
www.boilingcold.com.au/regulator-or...
Stokes' Seven Group told to fix leaking gas well off Victorian coast
SGH's decade of neglect of its Longtom gas field off the Gippsland coast is "an erosion of good industry practice" according to NOPSEMA.
www.boilingcold.com.au
December 16, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Offshore regulator orders Kerry Stokes' Seven Group Holdings to fix a leaking gas well off the Victorian coast.
A decade of neglect of the Longtom gas field off the Gippsland coast is "an erosion of good industry practice" according to NOPSEMA.
www.boilingcold.com.au/regulator-or...
A decade of neglect of the Longtom gas field off the Gippsland coast is "an erosion of good industry practice" according to NOPSEMA.
www.boilingcold.com.au/regulator-or...
Reposted by Pete Milne
Editorial: AUKUS is a once-in-a-century folly. It’s a defence policy written by a tourism executive. At great expense, it makes the country less safe. It is to Labor’s immense shame that it lacks the courage or insight to walk away from it. satpa.pe/E9Wg0I8
Pete Hegseth and the AUKUS folly
The man who sets Australia’s defence policy is an alcoholic former Fox News commentator who is known for his gross financial mismanagement and on at least one occasion paid a settlement to a woman he was accused of raping.
satpa.pe
December 12, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Editorial: AUKUS is a once-in-a-century folly. It’s a defence policy written by a tourism executive. At great expense, it makes the country less safe. It is to Labor’s immense shame that it lacks the courage or insight to walk away from it. satpa.pe/E9Wg0I8
WA's mining regulator has questioned Alcoa's claims of "low impact exploration," plans to offset the damage from its mining, and its effect on endangered cockatoos.
From an FOI request by Boiling Cold.
www.boilingcold.com.au/mines-depart...
From an FOI request by Boiling Cold.
www.boilingcold.com.au/mines-depart...
Mines Department blasts holes in Alcoa’s jarrah forest care claims
Endangered cockatoos - 105,000 exploration holes a year - insecure offsets: WA’s mining regulator has questions for the US miner.
www.boilingcold.com.au
December 8, 2025 at 11:21 PM
WA's mining regulator has questioned Alcoa's claims of "low impact exploration," plans to offset the damage from its mining, and its effect on endangered cockatoos.
From an FOI request by Boiling Cold.
www.boilingcold.com.au/mines-depart...
From an FOI request by Boiling Cold.
www.boilingcold.com.au/mines-depart...
Black Mountain's plans to frack the Kimberley risk water resources, threatened species, and national heritage, according to the Federal environment department.
www.boilingcold.com.au/environmenta...
www.boilingcold.com.au/environmenta...
Enviro regulator raises doubts over Kimberley fracking
Black Mountain's conclusion that its drilling will not affect water resources is without foundation, and threatened species and National Heritage are at risk, according to the Federal environment depa...
www.boilingcold.com.au
November 28, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Black Mountain's plans to frack the Kimberley risk water resources, threatened species, and national heritage, according to the Federal environment department.
www.boilingcold.com.au/environmenta...
www.boilingcold.com.au/environmenta...
Black Mountain Energy, with less than $5 million in the bank, wants the go ahead to frack for gas in the Kimberley.
www.boilingcold.com.au/who-is-black...
www.boilingcold.com.au/who-is-black...
Black Mountain, the firm that wants to frack the Kimberley
A company with less than $5 million in the bank and a boss who lives in the US will soon get a red or green light from WA's environment watchdog.
www.boilingcold.com.au
November 26, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Black Mountain Energy, with less than $5 million in the bank, wants the go ahead to frack for gas in the Kimberley.
www.boilingcold.com.au/who-is-black...
www.boilingcold.com.au/who-is-black...
Gina Rinehart's Hancock Energy nears launch of Belisama Perth Basin gas project, which could supply up to 20 per cent of WA's demand from 2029.
www.boilingcold.com.au/gina-rinehar...
www.boilingcold.com.au/gina-rinehar...
Rinehart's Hancock Energy to launch Belisama gas project
The Belisama project inland from Dongara could supply up to 20 per cent of WA's demand from 2029.
www.boilingcold.com.au
November 26, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Gina Rinehart's Hancock Energy nears launch of Belisama Perth Basin gas project, which could supply up to 20 per cent of WA's demand from 2029.
www.boilingcold.com.au/gina-rinehar...
www.boilingcold.com.au/gina-rinehar...
Reposted by Pete Milne
Wouldn’t it be good if there was some kind of environment legislation that could stop this sort of thing from happening
New: "Minister Gavin Pearce has confirmed the closure of the commercial rock lobster fishery near diseased salmon pens south of D’Entrecasteaux Channel, citing concerns that antibiotic residues could prompt Japan and China to ban imports of Tasmania’s $90-million southern rock lobster industry."
Minister Confirms Antibiotics Close Rock Lobster Fishery
Japanese and Chinese markets at risk
tasmaniantimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Wouldn’t it be good if there was some kind of environment legislation that could stop this sort of thing from happening
Woodside and other gas exporters have a "shocking record" of not providing evidence that gas helps reduce carbon emissions, according to veteran WA Labor MP Chris Tallentire.
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-labor-vet...
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-labor-vet...
WA Labor veteran slams “baseless" claims that gas is good for the climate
Woodside and other exporters have a "shocking record" of not providing evidence that gas helps reduce carbon emissions, according to Chris Tallentire.
www.boilingcold.com.au
November 13, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Woodside and other gas exporters have a "shocking record" of not providing evidence that gas helps reduce carbon emissions, according to veteran WA Labor MP Chris Tallentire.
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-labor-vet...
www.boilingcold.com.au/wa-labor-vet...
Reposted by Pete Milne
Never forget: At breakneck speed we are leaving the stable Holocene climate in which human society developed and thrived. Weather extremes are outside historical experience. Sea-level rise is accelerating. Dangerous tipping points are ahead.
Graph: ed-hawkins.github.io/climate-visu...
Graph: ed-hawkins.github.io/climate-visu...
November 13, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Never forget: At breakneck speed we are leaving the stable Holocene climate in which human society developed and thrived. Weather extremes are outside historical experience. Sea-level rise is accelerating. Dangerous tipping points are ahead.
Graph: ed-hawkins.github.io/climate-visu...
Graph: ed-hawkins.github.io/climate-visu...
Reposted by Pete Milne
Confidential Western Australian government report warns gas exports risk slowing Asia’s move to clean energy - by @petemilne.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Confidential Western Australian government report warns gas exports risk slowing Asia’s move to clean energy
Report by consultants Deloitte undermines Labor’s public claims that WA’s gas exports help reduce emissions overseas
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Confidential Western Australian government report warns gas exports risk slowing Asia’s move to clean energy - by @petemilne.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
The Cook WA Labor Government was told by Deloitte a year ago that gas exports could slow down Asia's energy transition. It did not hinder their determination to allow Woodside Energy to operate its North West Shelf LNG plant until 2070.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Confidential Western Australian government report warns gas exports risk slowing Asia’s move to clean energy
Report by consultants Deloitte undermines Labor’s public claims that WA’s gas exports help reduce emissions overseas
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:45 AM
The Cook WA Labor Government was told by Deloitte a year ago that gas exports could slow down Asia's energy transition. It did not hinder their determination to allow Woodside Energy to operate its North West Shelf LNG plant until 2070.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...