The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) has welcomed the creation of the new Department of Training and Workforce Development in Western Australia.

In a statement, APPEA's director for the state Tom Baddeley told PACE Today that it will be hugely beneficial to the petroleum industry as training and development in the country needs to be a top priority if skills shortfalls are to be avoided.

"Our industry needs highly skilled workers and with a number of large gas projects on the drawing boards that will create even greater demand, it is important that we can work together with government to meet these skill needs," he added.

Mr Baddeley concluded that the new department will also support employment in regional aboriginal communities throughout Western Australia.

Last month, APPEA also welcomed the decision by the state and national governments to accept joint responsibility for capturing and storing carbon as part of the Gorgon liquefied natural gas project as a big step forward in developing the country's full export potential.

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