Federal Labor congratulates INPEX and its joint venture partners on the first shipment of liquid natural gas from Darwin to Japan, representing a culmination of years of effort to realise the Ichthys LNG Project.

Since discovery of the Ichthys gas and condensate field in 2000 off the coast of Western Australia, the INPEX development has become one of the most significant and complex oil and gas ventures in the world. It plays a vital role in the economy of Northern Australia and will continue to contribute to the Australian economy for decades to come.

Federal Labor also welcomes the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Darwin to celebrate this important occasion in Australia and Japans very significant trade relationship.

The continuing and enduring strength of the Australia-Japan relationship is a beacon of reconciliation. We were once at war, but now the economies of our Northern Australian towns are being strengthened by the largest ever Japanese overseas investment.

INPEX currently employs 3,000 people in Darwin and 1,100 in Broome and on their offshore production facility. INPEX Australian headquarters in Perth employs 1,300 people.

Over the 40 years of operations, the project is expected to generate $195 billion in Australian exports and bring an additional $190 billion in GDP for Australia.

Tomorrow marks the start of the Larrakia Ichthys LNG Foundation Trust, which will see INPEX contribute $24 million towards community programs for the Larrakia people, the Traditional Owners of the Darwin region.