While the policy provides clear proof that Australia never had a ‘gas shortage’ and has been suffering from excessive gas exports, a gas reservation policy won’t change the sad fact that Australia is giving away more than half of the gas it exports for free.

Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO of The Australia Institute, says the policy is a distraction after the government caved into the gas lobby and appeared to rule out a gas export tax in next week’s federal budget.

“The government is trying to shift attention away from its determination to keep giving more than half the gas Australia exports away for free,” Dr Denniss said.

“The Albanese Government wants Australians to think it’s doing something about gas, but instead of collecting $350 million per week from a gas export tax, it is pursuing a new policy that won’t raise a cent.”

“Labor has the numbers in parliament. It has the support of unions, crossbenchers and, most importantly, voters. One nation voters want a gas export tax. Clive Palmer supporters want a gas export tax. Labor voters want a gas export tax.”

Dr Denniss has branded a gas reservation as the “wrong solution” to a problem which has been deliberately engineered by the gas industry, which has created fake fears of shortages in Australia while it was exporting vast  quantities of Australian gas overseas.

“More than half of the gas Australia exports has been given away for free, with zero royalties and PRRT paid on huge quantities of Australian gas exports.”

“A 25% gas export tax would not only raise $17 billion per year, it would give gas companies an incentive to sell gas to Australians first.”

“A gas export tax solves so many problems at once. It would collect large amounts of revenue, push gas prices down here in Australia and provide the Albanese Government with the resources it needs to invest in health, education, housing and all the other big problems facing Australia.”

“It’s supported by the ACTU, the Commonwealth Bank CEO and an overwhelming majority of Australians.”

“It’s time for the Albanese Government to stop fiddling with the big problems Australia faces and starts fixing them.”