Why are workers striking at Inpex's Ichthys LNG facilities?

Hundreds of offshore production workers have commenced protected industrial action following a breakdown in enterprise bargaining negotiations over pay and workplace conditions.

Which unions are involved in the Inpex industrial action?

The industrial action is being led by the Offshore Alliance. This is a powerful coalition comprising the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), and the Electrical Trades Union.

What specific industrial action is being taken at the Inpex Ichthys facilities?

Workers have implemented rolling strikes, work stoppages, and work bans. This protected industrial action is currently underway across all three of Inpex's Ichthys liquefied natural gas facilities in Australia.

How long is the Inpex strike scheduled to last?

The current round of escalating industrial action is formally notified and scheduled to run until June 10, 2026. However, the union group has stated it will keep escalating actions until Inpex agrees to fair industrial outcomes, meaning a resolution date depends on future negotiations.

What are the production volumes at risk during the Inpex strike?

The dispute threatens operations at Inpex’s massive Ichthys LNG project, which has an annual production capacity of 9.3 million metric tonnes. A prolonged standstill across its three facilities could severely restrict export output.

Why did previous mediation fail to prevent the Inpex strike?

Unions initially suspended planned strikes in late May due to progress during Fair Work Commission-facilitated bargaining. However, the Offshore Alliance subsequently announced that Inpex's final positions fell "a long way short" on key claims, prompting 326 out of 346 members to execute their right to strike.

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Inpex workers launch strike at Australian LNG facilities

Written by Mahathir BayenaPublished Jun. 2 2026Last Updated Jun. 2 2026

Hundreds of offshore production workers at Inpex’s 9.3-million-tonne Ichthys liquefied natural gas facilities in Australia have commenced protected industrial action following a breakdown in crucial enterprise bargaining negotiations.

The Offshore Alliance—a coalition comprising the Australian Workers’ Union, the Maritime Union of Australia, and the Electrical Trades Union—confirmed that rolling strikes and work bans are now underway across all three Inpex facilities.

The escalating industrial action, formally scheduled to run until June 10, threatens to severely disrupt Australian LNG exports at a critical juncture, as global energy markets face a potential supply crunch exacerbated by the ongoing war in Iran.

While the unions had initially suspended planned strikes late last month due to positive, Fair Work Commission-facilitated mediation, the alliance announced that the Japanese gas giant ultimately fell well short on fundamental claims regarding pay and workplace conditions.

Union officials stated that members had reached their limit, arguing that Inpex continues to generate billions in profit off the back of its Australian operations workforce without delivering fair industrial outcomes.

The dispute follows an overwhelming April ballot in which 326 out of 346 union members voted in favour of striking.

As Australia serves as Japan’s largest supplier of LNG, energy analysts are monitoring the situation closely, warning that a prolonged standstill at the Ichthys facilities could trigger significant supply volatility and escalate the current international energy crisis.