What is the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax and why do we want to get rid of it?
The Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) is the current system used to try and tax gas exports, but it has utterly failed to deliver for Australia. Riddled with massive loopholes, it collects virtually no meaningful revenue from the multi-billion dollar gas industry.
The result is a national scandal: the government collects more money from things like beer excise and student HECS debt repayments than it does from all gas exports combined. It's a broken system that must be replaced.
Who pays more tax than gas exports?
Multinational gas corporations pay less tax on their billions in exports than many everyday Australians, including:
- Nurses
- Teachers
- Students with HECS debt
- Retail workers
If we had a 25% tax on gas exports...
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
- How will the parliamentary inquiry work?
-
The inquiry will put the industry’s claims under scrutiny and show how much revenue is being left on the table while fossil fuel profits soar.
The inquiry is a clear opportunity to show the government that there is lots of community and expert support for a fairer tax on gas exports.
If you’d like to send that message to the government, you can make a submission by Monday, April 13th, 2026. Submissions do not need to be detailed.
- What should I put in my submission to the inquiry?
-
Here are some things that you could mention:
- Australia is one of the world’s largest gas exporters, yet the public doesn’t see much benefit from the wealth that this generates.
- The current tax lever – the PRRT - has failed to deliver for Australia. It means gas giants often get the gas for free, sell them offshore at a huge mark up, and give back very little to the community.
- Because of these massive loopholes, companies like Woodside, Santos and Chevron keep making record profits on gas exports while communities are doing it tough. The government collects more money from beer excise and student HECS debt repayments than it does from all gas exports combined. That’s not fair.
- In Norway, fossil fuel companies are taxed at much higher rates.
- The money made from those taxes helps Norway to pay for schools and hospitals. It’s no coincidence that Norway is regularly recorded as one of the happiest places in the world.
- The money made from those taxes helps Norway to pay for schools and hospitals. It’s no coincidence that Norway is regularly recorded as one of the happiest places in the world.
- Companies should not profit from Australia’s resources without giving back to the community.
- A minimum 25 per cent tax on gas exports would set a baseline return to be used to support all Australians.
- It would help to pay for cost-of-living relief, building resilience against climate disasters, and a rapid investment in the transition to renewable energy.
- A gas export tax would also encourage companies to prioritise domestic gas supply, helping to protect against future global energy shocks.
- Australia is one of the world’s largest gas exporters, yet the public doesn’t see much benefit from the wealth that this generates.
- How do I make a submission to the parliamentary inquiry?
-
You can follow the instructions on the Australian Parliament's website here.
The best submissions:
- begin with a short introduction about yourself or the organisation you represent
- are relevant and highlight your own perspective or experience
- are concise, generally no longer than 2-4 pages