Inpex Gas Facility Workers Strike Over Pay Deal Stalemate
Quick Look
- Workers at the Japanese-owned Inpex gas facility in Australia have walked off the job due to stalled pay negotiations.
- The Offshore Alliance and Electrical Trades Union are demanding 3% annual pay rises, which industry groups claim would push average salaries over $500,000 and significantly increase labor costs.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Workers at the Inpex gas facility have walked off the job after negotiations on a new pay deal stalled. The Offshore Alliance and Electrical Trades Union are seeking annual pay rises of 3% and better conditions. Industry groups argue these demands would significantly increase labor costs and average salaries.
Workers at the Inpex gas facility have walked off the job after negotiations stalled on a new pay deal.
Industry observers have claimed union demands would push the average salary of an Inpex worker beyond $500,000 a year.
What's next?
Industrial action was taken this morning, with further work stoppages planned for Tuesday evening.
Workers at the Japanese-owned Inpex gas operation have walked off the job after weeks of negotiations on pay and conditions stalled.
Industrial action took place this morning at the Ichthys site, with a further two-hour work stoppage planned for this evening.
The Offshore Alliance, a combination of the Australian Workers' Union and the Maritime Union of Australia, and the Electrical Trades Union have been pushing for better conditions and annual pay rises of 3 per cent.
Industry lobby group Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association (AREEA) have said this would increase labour costs by 50–60 per cent and push the average Inpex salary to more than $500,000 a year.
The Ichthys operation takes gas from offshore fields in West Australian waters, before it is sent to Darwin for processing via an 890-kilometre-long underwater pipeline.
Workers at onshore and offshore facilities are taking part in the strike action.
In a social media post, the Offshore Alliance said significant progress had been made in negotiations last week, but Inpex had "fallen short on a number of fundamental claims".
"A long way short, and our Inpex members have had enough."
"Protected Industrial Action ramps up today on all 3 Inpex facilities with stoppages of work and work bans."
"Inpex are making billions off the blood, sweat and tears of their Australian operations workforce, and we will keep escalating PIA [protected industrial action] until Inpex agree to fair industrial outcomes."
" If you don't fight, you lose. "
Production started at the Ichthys site in 2019, with up to 9.3 million tonnes of liquid natural gas processed at the site every year.
In 2025 the Australian Workers' Union alleged staff complaints about health and safety were being brushed aside by Inpex.
Union representatives and Inpex have been contacted for comment.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Further work stoppages and bans will continue.
Very likely · Within days
Negotiations will eventually resume.
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- When will negotiations resume?
- What specific 'fundamental claims' did Inpex fall short on?
- What is Inpex's response to the escalating protected industrial action?
- What is the projected impact on gas production and supply?
