On 1 November 2006 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released its final decision on the access arrangement for Epic Energy's Ballera to Wallumbilla Natural Gas Pipeline, also known as the South West Queensland Pipeline (SWQP). The revised access arrangement became effective on 1 January 2007.
The SWQP was subject to a derogation of the Queensland Government which precluded the ACCC from reviewing the reference tariff policy for the full foward haul service until 30 June 2016. Thus the ACCC's review focussed on the alternative forms of transport (AFT) services, alternatives to the full forward haul service.
The National Gas Law (NGL) and National Gas Rules (NGR) commenced on 1 July 2008 and replaced the Gas Pipeline Access Law and the gas code. The National Gas (Queensland) Regulation 2008 (the Regulation), which is subordinate legislation to the National Gas (Queensland) Act 2008, provides for transitional arrangements under the NGL and NGR for the South West Queensland Pipeline, the Queensland Gas Pipeline and the Carpentaria Gas Pipeline. The Regulation stipulates that the South West Queensland Pipeline is no longer a covered pipeline. Accordingly, the access arrangement ceases to apply.