The potential of gas fracking in a pristine wilderness area has opened a fresh fault line between industry and conservation groups.
Premier Roger Cook said Western Australia could be forced to permit fracking in the Kimberley region if Woodside Energy's $30 billion offshore Browse project was not developed and the state was left short of gas.
Mr Cook told the Australian Financial Review that WA had a large deficit in its future energy needs, and renewable sources would not be able to replace the gas needed to meet demands from households and heavy industry.
The mining sector welcomed Mr Cook's remarks, with the Chamber of Minerals and Energy saying gas and the proposed Browse development were critical to WA's energy security.
