COALITION OFFERS LABOR PATH TO FIX GAS RESERVATION SCHEME

The Coalition remains ready and willing to work with the Albanese Government to deliver a domestic gas reservation scheme that puts Australian households and businesses first.

Shadow Minister for Resources, Senator Susan McDonald, said the Coalition supported the principle of reserving Australian gas for Australian consumers, but Labor’s legislation in its current form risked undermining the very investment needed to secure future supplies.

In additional comments to a Senate committee report on the proposed legislation, Senators McDonald and Kerrynne Liddle outlined serious concerns, including those raised by gas producers, manufacturers, industry groups and the Western Australian Government.

“The Coalition has been clear from the outset that we support a properly designed domestic gas reservation scheme, and we remain absolutely willing to work constructively with the Government to get this right,” Senator McDonald said.

“We want Australian gas for Australian households, businesses and manufacturers, but the answer to our gas supply challenges must be to produce more gas, not simply shuffle existing supplies around.

“Labor’s proposal in its current form will drive away investment, destroy domestic only producers, discourage new production and ultimately leave Australians with less gas and higher prices.

“Global gas demand continues to grow and this legislation as drafted risks Australia missing, not benefiting, from that demand.

“That is not a sensible outcome for consumers or the national economy, and it is certainly not what domestic gas reservation is supposed to achieve.”

Senator McDonald said the Senate inquiry had exposed significant flaws in the legislation, including excessive ministerial discretion, a requirement to supply gas regardless of market demand, and potential interference with Western Australia’s existing reservation arrangements.

She said the concerns were not confined to the Coalition, with Western Australian Labor Premier Roger Cook warning that the legislation could undermine investment certainty and compromise long-term domestic gas supply.

“When the Western Australian Labor Premier is raising serious concerns about the consequences of this legislation, the Albanese Government should be listening,” Senator McDonald said.

“Industry has also warned that the proposed scheme could discourage billions of dollars in investment and put future gas projects at risk.

“These concerns go directly to whether Australia will have enough affordable gas to power our industries, keep manufacturers operating and support households in the years ahead.”

Senator McDonald warned that Labor should be willing to work with the Coalition rather than doing “another dirty deal” with the Greens to secure passage of the legislation.

“The Greens fundamentally oppose the gas industry. Handing them influence over Australia’s gas reservation laws would be a disastrous decision with potentially long-lasting consequences for our energy security, jobs and international trading relationships,” she said.

“Australia cannot have its energy policy dictated by a party that wants to shut down the very industry we depend on to keep the lights on and our economy running.

“The Government can work with the Coalition to deliver a balanced, practical scheme that secures affordable gas while encouraging new investment, securing Australia’s future, or it can pursue an ideological agenda that risks making Australia’s gas shortages worse.

“We are not asking Labor to abandon domestic gas reservation, we are simply proposing to fix the legislation so the scheme actually achieves its stated objectives.

“Our door remains open. The Coalition is ready to work with the Government in good faith to deliver a scheme that protects Australian consumers, supports new gas production and puts Australia’s national interest first.”

ENDS