2026-09-01
The Greens say the timing couldn’t be more cynical, with Albanese in Palau today for the Pacific Islands Forum talking up Australia’s climate leadership, while Resources Minister Madeleine King celebrates the first gas flowing from the Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory on the same day.
The Beetaloo project is a climate bomb, with a dangerous 430 trillion cubic feet of gas that has to stay in the ground if we want to stop the planet cooking further. While the first gas is being supplied to the Northern Territory market, the Territory Government has explicitly identified the Beetaloo as a future source of gas for export.
The NT and federal governments have spent $535 million subsidising the gas industry since the fracking moratorium was lifted in 2018.
Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Larissa Waters said:
“This is a terrible day for the climate. The Beetaloo is a climate bomb that will speed up dangerous climate change, putting us all at risk.
“While people are hurting as the cost of living soars, Labor is subsidising this climate bomb with public money, giving millions that should be going to building homes, schools and hospitals to boost corporate profits instead.
“Labor’s backing Big Gas over Australians, by throwing billions at gas corporate subsidies, refusing to tax gas exports fairly, and cutting funding to services we all rely on including the NDIS.
“While Labor is committed to making climate change worse, only the Greens are willing to stand up to rich corporate interests, and tax the obscene export profits of big gas corporations to fund the services we all need.”
Australian Greens spokesperson for resources, Senator Steph Hodgins-May said:
“The Prime Minister is in the Pacific talking up Australia’s climate leadership, while back home Madeleine King is cutting the ribbon on a new climate bomb gas project.
“You cannot make this shit up.
“Beetaloo gas is now flowing, after the Albanese Government backed its development despite the enormous climate consequences.
“The Prime Minister has conceded that this gas could quickly end up powering energy-hungry data centres, driving a new surge in demand for gas.
“Independent analysts have rejected claims that Beetaloo gas will be a silver bullet for Territory jobs and industry. That’s spin from an industry looking to get rich off gas.
“Meanwhile, Territorians have already been forced to subsidise this risky industry to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.
“The Labor government is asking Australians to bankroll new gas projects while refusing to ensure Australians get a fair return from the gas that belongs to them.
“The gas industry gets the subsidies and the profits, while everyone else gets the climate bill.
“Pacific Island leaders see through the Prime Minister’s spin and his double speak, as do Territorians and the Australian public.”