LABOR RUSHES PRE-XMAS AMENDMENTS TO ENSURE LAWS STOP GAS INVESTMENT

• Labor rushes amendments on last day to stop gas being a part of Australia’s future.
• Future Made will be a fantasy without gas for energy and manufacturing.
• Coalition recommits to unlocking new gas supply to drive down prices and avert shortfalls.

Labor’s last-minute amendment to block any support for gas, oil or coal under their Future Made in Australia legislation, will compound growing international uncertainty about Australia’s trade credentials.

Shadow Minister for Resources, Senator Susan McDonald, said the latest attack on Australia’s gas industry came as no surprise considering Labor’s track record of demonising the sector.

“But we didn’t expect the attack to be legislated so clearly to put it beyond doubt,” she said.

Senator McDonald said that over many decades Australia had built an international brand as a reliable trading partner and defence ally.

“This is Labor’s latest move to dilute that hard-earned reputation built by generations of Australians. Our Australian brand is under threat,” she said.

She said the decision to specifically exempt investment in gas sent a very clear message to the 80,000 direct and indirect workers in the nation’s gas sector, and warned it was regional jobs most at risk.

“Under Labor, natural gas won’t be part of Australia’s future,” she said.

“This highlights that Labor’s so-called ‘Future Gas Strategy’ only has one goal – to shut down our gas industry.

“This is an extraordinary tin-eared move from the government in the same week as instability in our energy grid compounded the risk of  blackouts. Surely Labor, the Greens and the Teal politicians can see their renewables-only approach to energy is driving up power prices across Australia,” Senator McDonald said.

“A Coalition government will support new gas infrastructure, target key gas basins, and will wholeheartedly stand by our gas sector as it continues to power Australia and the world.”

ENDS