Workers at the Japanese-owned Inpex gas operation have downed tools, marking a significant escalation in industrial action after protracted negotiations over pay and working conditions failed to yield an agreement.
The industrial dispute, which has been simmering for weeks, saw a walkout this morning at the Ichthys site, with further two-hour stoppages slated for this evening.
The industrial action is being spearheaded by a united front comprising the Electrical Trades Union and the Offshore Alliance. The Offshore Alliance itself is a powerful coalition formed by the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).
These unions are collectively demanding improved working conditions and annual pay increases of 3 per cent for their members.
However, the proposed wage hikes have drawn a sharp response from the industry lobby group, the Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association (AREEA). The AREEA has asserted that such increases would inflate labour costs by a staggering 50–60 per cent.
According to their calculations, this would catapult the average Inpex salary to an eye-watering figure exceeding $500,000 per annum.
Caleb Burke, an AWU organiser, has vehemently disputed these figures presented by the AREEA, maintaining that the union’s claims are entirely reasonable and fair.
“People should be cautious when they hear these big cost figures presented by AREEA,” Burke stated.
“Our members deserve transparency, not inflated numbers designed to make legitimate claims look unreasonable, and make the public turn against them.” He emphasised that the union’s objective is to ensure their members are treated fairly and that their contributions to the operation are recognised.
Baca Juga: ichthys
The Ichthys operation is a critical piece of infrastructure, responsible for extracting natural gas from offshore fields located in West Australian waters. This gas is then transported to Darwin for processing via an extensive 890-kilometre-long underwater pipeline, highlighting the complex and far-reaching nature of the operation.
The current industrial action involves workers from both the onshore and offshore facilities of the Ichthys project.
In a recent social media update, the Offshore Alliance revealed that while significant progress had been made in negotiations during the previous week, Inpex had ultimately “fallen short on a number of fundamental claims”.
“A long way short, and our Inpex members have had enough,” the post declared, conveying the growing frustration among the workforce. “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.”
The Ichthys site commenced production in 2019, and it has the capacity to process up to 9.3 million tonnes of liquid natural gas annually. This substantial output underscores the economic significance of the operation.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised regarding the treatment of staff at the Inpex facility. In 2025, the Australian Workers’ Union had previously alleged that staff complaints pertaining to health and safety were being disregarded by Inpex management.
Negotiations are reportedly scheduled to recommence tomorrow. The Offshore Alliance has indicated its willingness to suspend industrial action, provided there is a marked improvement in the dialogue and a genuine commitment from Inpex to address their core concerns.
Inpex has been approached for comment regarding the ongoing industrial dispute and the claims made by the unions. The outcome of these upcoming negotiations will be closely watched by the industry and the affected workforce, as the standoff continues.
