2026-10-23
Evidence by the gas pipeline peak body to today’s inquiry into Labor’s proposed gas reserve confirmed the bill would make it easier to open up the massive Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory.
Australian Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA) Head of Policy, Ms Catriona Rafael, told the inquiry:
“More gas in the domestic market means more gas that has to get to customers… I certainly think it will make it easier to reach FID (final investment decision) for those projects [that will connect the Beetaloo to the east coast market and Darwin]”
The Greens say Labor has a choice to make. Do a terrible deal with the gas-guzzling Liberals for more expensive energy bills and a fracking free-for-all, or join the nearly two in three Australians who want a gas export tax.
Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Steph Hodgins-May, said:
“From the start the Greens were worried Labor was trying to sneak the gas industry through the backdoor with its gas reservation policy. Today’s evidence does not help.
“A jaw dropping 27 billion tonnes of emissions are in the NT’s Beetaloo Basin. If Labor detonates this climate bomb and opens up this gas field, we can say goodbye to their climate targets and say hello to runaway climate collapse.
“This proposed gas reservation is Labor’s giant and complex distraction from making gas exporters actually pay what they owe in tax. But now we learn it is going to make it easier to open up new gas fields and infrastructure. This is the worst of both worlds
“This bill will enable gas exports to continue until the year 2128, seventy-eight years after Labor pledges to be net zero. Enough with the duplicity, Labor wants happy gas donors, not a safe climate for everyone.
“Without a significant rewrite, this Bill is going to make the climate crisis worse. They should dump this proposal and tax gas exports now to help Australians with desperately needed cost-of-living relief and funding to genuinely transition our economy.”