Mr Laurie James was appointed as Western Australia's Gas Disputes Arbitrator in 1999 and re-appointed in April 2003 for a further 5 years.
Mr James is a Supreme Court barrister and solicitor and is Chairman of the Western Australian law firm Kott Gunning.
Mr James has extensive background experience in arbitration, having held the position of Chairman of the Western Australian Chapter of the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia between 1990 and 1997. He is currently a National Councillor of that Institute.
Mr James was also a senior vice president of the Law Society of WA from 1995 to 1996 and is currently Deputy Chairman (WA) of the Construction and Infrastructure Law Committee of the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.
The position of Gas Disputes Arbitrator was established to resolve disputes between providers of gas pipeline services and other parties seeking access to gas pipelines covered by the National Gas Access Code.
The functions of the Arbitrator include:
Regulations may be viewed on the web site of the WA State Law Publisher. Click here to view the web page of the WA State Law Publisher.
The Gas Disputes Arbitrator has assumed certain electricity related functions conferred under the Electricity Industry Act 2004.
The Arbitrator may resolve disputes arising under:
- Appendix 8 of the Wholesale Electricity Market Rules - contracts entered into in relation to the Top-Up-And-Spill (TUAS) market;
- Chapter 10 of the Electricity Networks Access Code - negotiation of contracts for access to regulated electricity networks; and
- Chapter 10 of the Electricity Networks Access Code - where agreed by the parties to an access contract, the Arbitrator has jurisdiction to hear contractual disputes.
A party seeking to bring a matter before the Arbitrator for resolution should first contact the Authority.
Included in the above functions and powers of the Arbitrator are those relating to the Gas Referee established under the Gas Referee Regulations 1995.
A party seeking a matter to be brought before the Arbitrator for resolution under the provisions of the Gas Pipelines Access (WA) Act 1998, should lodge their application with the Chairman:
Address:
Economic Regulation Authority
6th Floor
Governor Stirling Tower
197 St Georges Tce
Perth Western Australia 6000
Postal Address:
Economic Regulation Authority
PO Box 8469
Perth Business Centre
Western Australia 6849
Telephone: +61 8 9213 1900
Facsimile: +61 8 9213 1999
The Arbitrator is subject to the same independence, financing and immunity provisions as apply to the ERA. Unlike the ERA, the Arbitrator will not appoint permanent staff, but public service employees can be assigned to work in the area. The Minister for Energy may direct the Arbitrator in regard to general policies relating to matters of administration, including financial administration.
The Arbitrator has responsibility for the financial management of the Gas Review Board and the provision of administrative support to the board. As the Board does not hear appeals against the Arbitrator, its administrative accountability to the Arbitrator does not constrain or impair its independence.
