Mr. McCourt said a lot of discussion had taken place on the pros and cons of the extraction of gas off the Kimberley coast and how to process the gas.

While absolutely committed to the strictest of environmental conditions, Mr. McCourt said the only option the Nationals would support would be for a single hub.

“All companies involved in the exploration of gas fields in the Browse Basin – or anywhere else off the Kimberley coast – should know that a single hub is the only way to go in order to get support.

Recently the Japanese owned INPEX resource company reiterated its preferred processing location at the Maret Islands and if this was not achievable, it may look at Darwin as a base.

“I am pro-development but not any cost. All companies need to work with each other and the single hub process is reasonable and logical.

“I am also a realist. I want the best possible outcome from the Kimberley should gas reserves turn into full-scale production. The gas fields are in Commonwealth hands and not WA’s,” Mr. McCourt said.

A vital issue for the town of Broome was to ensure that its social infrastructure was protected.

This means very careful planning of a single hub that needed to be located some considerable distance away and self-contained.

That could still mean Broome could play a vital role in supporting the industry through aviation services.