Gas exporters pay no tax (again) | Between the Lines
The Wrap with Hayden Starr
For the last five years I’ve worked behind the scenes, helping communicate the Australia Institute’s research online and on social media, including writing and editing this newsletter. As my time with the Australia Institute comes to an end, it’s my pleasure to write The Wrap for my last newsletter with you.
It takes a lot to change someone’s mind. It takes a lot to change a country. Even more so when you are up against the very well-resourced and very powerful misinformation machines that serve to defend and consolidate power, wealth, and the status quo.
There are few better examples than that of the fossil fuel industry. Greenwashing gas, overinflating economic benefits, spreading lies about renewable energy, all while digging new coal mines and gas wells and paying a pittance (or nothing) in tax.
“Australia is one of the biggest gas exporters in the world.
“Yet when gas prices go up, it’s Australians that feel poor.”
Research Director Rod Campbell unpacking new government data that confirms gas exporters continue to pay no tax.
@rodcampbell.bsky.social #auspol— The Australia Institute (@australiainstitute.org.au) October 3, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Looking at our ‘special friend’ the United States, the links between those calling the shots, and big money, big tech and big fossil fuels, have never been clearer.
Elon Musk knew the value of controlling public discourse, which is why he bought Twitter, now X. Controlled by Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s Facebook and Instagram have become breeding grounds for climate disinformation and extremist far right conspiracy groups.
The antidote to this is everything that the Australia Institute stands for. And it’s why I’ve been so proud to work with such an incredible team of brave, intelligent and compassionate people for the last five years.
Changing a country requires a collective movement of people demanding change. A collective movement requires a collective understanding of what needs to change, and bold ideas for how to change it. With no shareholders to please, no profits to make, you can trust that everything the Australia Institute does has one goal: making Australia a better place for the people that live in it.
The rise of generative AI is a new and fearsome challenge with too many dimensions to list, but there is hope. The optimist in me believes that as our waterways of information become more and more clogged with AI slop, things that are created by humans and shared between humans become more and more valuable.
With artificial intelligence threatening to swamp Australia’s traditional media, can public interest journalism be protected?
Clive Marshall, ex-CEO of the Press Association (UK), and Emma Cowdroy, acting CEO of AAP, join @richarddenniss.bsky.social to discuss AI and the news.
🎧 theaus.in/4ncpTdZ
— The Australia Institute (@australiainstitute.org.au) September 4, 2025 at 10:24 AM
It’s why I feel so privileged to have been able to work with you, the engaged and passionate supporters that enable the Australia Institute to have the impact that it does.
Our theory of change isn’t a secret. It’s just a lot of work. And it’s work that would be impossible without people like you.
Thank you for attending our events and webinars, for reading our newsletter and staying informed in an world where the news is increasingly dominated by tragedy and suffering. Thank you for sharing our posts and petitions and keeping important discussions alive on social media. And of course a special thank you to our very generous donors, big and small, who have literally have made my job possible.
With a team like this one on your side, you’re in safe hands.
— Hayden Starr is the Digital Media Manager at the Australia Institute
The Big Stories
New government data confirms gas exporters continue to pay no tax
Corporate tax transparency data released yesterday by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) shows, once again, that multinational gas exporters are reaping billions from Australian resources while paying little or no tax.
“It beggars belief that a company like Santos can spend a decade selling almost $50 billion worth of gas and not pay a cent of tax on it,” said Rod Campbell, Research Director at the Australia Institute.
Big gas is taking the piss and Australian governments are letting them. It has to stop.
Learn more about fixing our gas export problem >
A closer look at the ANU books reveals a hard truth about these job cuts
The leadership of the Australian National University (ANU) has been claiming it is in financial crisis, with the former vice-chancellor declaring the institution was living beyond its means.
But there is a problem.
“The audited accounts provide no evidence that ANU is experiencing a financial crisis,” Richard Denniss writes in The Canberra Times.
“To be clear, the numbers signed off by their auditor state that in 2024 ANU recorded a $90 million surplus and increased the value of its net assets.
“So, how do you turn a $90 million surplus into a $142.5 million deficit? Easy. You just exclude nearly a quarter of a billion dollars of revenue that the auditor thought should be included.”
Are Hegseth and Trump trying to turn the military against Americans?
US President Donald Trump has talked about the “enemy within” before, but the recent addresses by Trump and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the military’s top brass represents a perilous moment for the United States.
“It’s difficult to be optimistic about American democracy,” Dr Emma Shortis, Director of International & Security Affairs, says.
Emma spoke to Glenn Connley about Hegseth’s ominous speech and why this could be an inflection point for American democracy.
The Government’s FOI changes could cover up the next Robodebt
The Government is justifying its clamp down on freedom of information (FOI) requests by claiming there’s been an increase in malicious and automated FOI attempts. Only problem is, there’s no evidence of such a thing.
Our previous research showed that the number of FOI requests has not increased, but processing time has.
Now, new analysis shows that the proposed changes would make a repeat of the disastrous Robodebt coverup more likely, rather than less.
The Royal Commission into Robodebt recommended making cabinet documents easier to access under FOI laws, finding the current system thwarted investigations into the scheme.
The Government’s proposal would make cabinet documents harder to access, in direct defiance of the Robodebt Royal Commission’s recommendation to make cabinet documents available for public scrutiny.
The Win
‘Baby Priya’ bill to be introduced into Parliament
Amanda Rishworth is introducing a bill to the parliament that will stop employers from being able to cancel maternity/paternity leave in the event of a stillbirth or an early infant death.
It has been sparked by the case of Baby Priya, who was born three months early and lived for 42 days before passing. Priya’s mother rang her employer of 11 years to tell her of the loss, and then soon after received a text message telling her her three months maternity leave had been cancelled and she was only allowed four weeks paid personal leave.
The Bin
Government works with Coalition to overhaul environment laws
The ABC is reporting that Murray Watt is very close to making a deal with the Coalition to pass it’s environmental protection legislation.
In our live blog, Amy Remeikis wrote that the mining industry want the Coalition to negotiate on these laws, which will set out go and no go zones for development and fossil fuel projects, because the alternative is the government negotiates with the Greens and that would mean some actual protections would be put in place.
So basically, Matt Canavan and Barnaby Joyce will be on the same side as the Labor government on environmental protections. What does that say about the legislation?
The Quote
The reason why prices are so high is because we export a phenomenal amount of gas.
– Hon Ed Husic MP, Labor Member for Chifley and former Minister for Industry and Science
Podcasts
Australia is a rich country that taxes like a poor one | Follow the Money
Matt Grudnoff and Ebony Bennett discuss the latest data from the Australian Taxation Office showing that 30 per cent of large corporations paid no company tax in 2023-24 – with the gas, coal, salmon and tech industries among the worst offenders.
Trump’s plan no path to lasting peace | After America
Antoun Issa joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the prospects for a peace deal that did not include Palestinians in the negotiating process. They also discuss the role of the United States in the Middle East, how power works in foreign policy, and opening up space for a bigger discussion about foreign policy here in Australia.
Housing affordability to get worse as big corporates do annual tax magic | Dollars & Sense
Greg and Elinor discuss housing affordability, how so many of Australia’s biggest companies manage to pay zero (0) corporate tax, and how Trump made solving the tax problem that much harder.
What’s On
Australia’s Housing Crisis | Politics in the Pub
Wednesday, 15 October | Canberra and online
Join us for a look at the causes and solutions of the housing crisis. This month we have Bill Code, the director of the new documentary Sold! Who Broke the Australian Dream?
Bernie Fraser Oration
Tuesday, 28 October | Canberra
Join us at the inaugural Bernie Fraser Oration, delivered by its namesake, Bernie Fraser, who lays claim to being the only person to have led the two main pillars of economic policy management in Australia, the RBA and Treasury.
As a prelude to The Australia Institute’s 2025 Revenue Summit, Bernie Fraser will lay out his ‘big picture’ view of global trends and how they relate to Australian financial markets and the economy in general. While financial leaders typically favour conservatism, Bernie Fraser doesn’t hold back and will present his ideas for raising revenue and detail Australia’s desperate need for a new wave of brave leaders.
Defiance with Bob Brown
Friday, 31 October | Webinar
For this month’s Book Club webinar, we’re joined by the incredible Bob Brown, discussing his new book Defiance.
Told with Brown’s trademark warmth and humour, his stories of fighting to defend nature will galvanise, uplift and inspire.
Barrie, Bowers & Friends
Monday, 17 October | Sydney
The Australia Institute presents Barrie, Bowers and Friends for an evening of political insight, laughs, and a bit of sass. From the election, to what the Albanese government is doing and what is the point of the Coalition – it will all be covered by some of the smartest minds in Australian politics, led by two of Australia’s best political aficionados, Barrie Cassidy and Mike Bowers.
Courage in Climate Leadership | Dr Hugh Saddler Memorial Lecture 2025
Thursday, 13 November | Adelaide
Join us at the second Dr Hugh Saddler Memorial Lecture, featuring the Hon Mike Rann AC CNZM, former South Australian Premier and current Chair of the UK Climate Group, discussing the politics of climate ambition, the importance of courage, and lessons from South Australia’s renewable energy transformation.
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