The Minister also called for more financial assistance from the Commonwealth Government to develop a tidal power project near Derby.

He said he wrote to the Prime Minister John Howard three times after the collapse of the $500 million Woodside-Energy Equity Corp deal to provide gas-fired power to the region. "The time has come to open tenders because there is no point continuing negotiations with the Commonwealth Government on tidal power," Mr Ripper said.

"Vigorous efforts by the State Government to secure concrete Commonwealth commitments to a tax-free capital grant for tidal power, the sharing of risk and the underwriting of a sustainable energy price have been rebuffed.

"This would have given tidal energy the best chance of success."

However, Federal Resources Minister, Mr Ian Mcfarlane rebutted the allegations and said the WA Government is not being honest and claimed the Federal Government had given Mr Ripper $25 million for the project. Mr Mcfarlane added he believed the $25 million would not be enough for the tidal project and that Mr Ripper should ask for the amount which was needed.