The Liberals and energy giant Woodside have fired pre-emptive strikes against Western Australia's environmental protection watchdog, fearing it will again recommend emissions-intensive projects should be carbon neutral.
The Environmental Protection Authority is seeking submissions on greenhouse gas guidelines for 12 weeks starting June 10, with chairman Tom Hatton saying all views will be taken into account.
The EPA was forced to rescind its guidelines in March after an uproar from the oil and gas industry, which warned tens of billions of dollars worth of new LNG projects were in jeopardy and complained the body hadn't done enough consultation.
The Conservation Council then accused big multi-nationals of bullying the state government into rejecting the proposal, but Mr Hatton dismissed the suggestion Premier Mark McGowan had leaned on him to back down.
The scientist maintains the federal government isn't doing enough to tackle emissions.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor disagreed.
"Our policy is strong by international standards - it's one of the strongest when you take into account the population growth and economic growth this country has seen and continues to see," Mr Taylor told 6PR radio.
WA's Liberal opposition leader Mike Nahan told reporters the premier had repeatedly said targets should be set nationally.
"It's not a state-based responsibility and Mr McGowan needs to instruct the EPA to that effect," Dr Nahan said.
At an oil and gas conference in Brisbane on Tuesday, Woodside chief executive Peter Coleman urged the EPA "not to compound the error it made" earlier this year in issuing a guideline with an "unachievable" emissions target.
"The EPA must now allow for serious and open-minded reflection upon its approach," Mr Coleman said.
"To fail to do so would raise further questions about the validity of the EPA's advice."
Dr Hatton has stressed the EPA is a long way off making a decision.
The WA government is not bound to accept the EPA's advice and has gone against its recommendations in the past.
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