WA is complex, when the pipeline was first touted it was justified on a take or pay model from various sources of industry. The pipeline was under utilised but fully funded. Some of those caught up paying for energy they weren't using started modifications and upgrades to rationalise this. About that time lng was kicking off and demand was outstripping supply. A second pipeline south was investigated but the pricing schedule was going to be free market not the artificial numbers used to get the pipeline built in the first place. Then lng revenues were better than anything domestic... similar happened on the east coast except it was power generation in the main that suffered.