2025-12-05
Amid reports that Labor is considering using public money to keep Australian businesses dependent on gas, the Greens have warned they will not support any Labor response to the broken gas market that incentivises new gas mines.
The Greens warn that the government’s current approach risks massive new gas subsidies, failing to tackle the problem of excessive, untaxed exports.
The Greens are reiterating calls for an immediate 25 per cent tax on all LNG exports, a measure proposed by the ACTU and backed by experts.
This tax would replace the deeply flawed Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT), which has failed to collect meaningful revenue from LNG exporters due to massive loopholes. The tax would also prioritise domestic gas supply without incentivising new fossil fuel projects.
Labor’s approach risks locking in decades of catastrophic emissions from climate bombs like Beetaloo and Narrabri, undermining our international climate commitments.
Lines attributable to the Australian Greens spokesperson for resources Senator Steph Hodgins-May:
“These reports are genuinely alarming. Labor must not use public money that should be going towards schools and hospitals to buy discounted gas for polluters.
“If they move to cement the power of gas corporations, the ones pillaging our resources and tripling household prices, we will face this problem over and over again.
“Labor is actively pushing the industry’s faulty premise that new supply is needed when the reality is that we’ve already got enough gas to get us through the transition.
“Gas corporations are gouging Australian households and tripling bills, while escaping without paying their fair share. An export levy will help right this wrong and deliver cost-of-living relief that families desperately need.
“When Labor pursues new gas incentives, they are walking hand-in-hand with the Coalition and industry lobbyists.
“Labor needs to scrap the broken PRRT and properly tax exports, not continue padding the balance sheets of gas giants who have had a free ride for too long.
“The 25% on gas exports is the best solution to redirect existing supply to Australians, raise revenue to compensate households, and get us off of gas quickly and fairly.