The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) has called on the Prime Minister not to rule out tax reform on gas exports in the Federal Budget, saying it would be an “insult to all Australians” in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, while gas exporters continued to rake-in super profits.
The statement comes after the Prime Minister today at a fossil fuel lobby breakfast ruled out introducing a tax on existing gas contracts but left the door open to taxing new gas contracts and the spot market.
CCWA Executive Director Matt Roberts said failing to tax the multi-billion-dollar industry would be a “wasted opportunity to finally hold the industry to account”.
“We’re hoping the Prime Minister is listening to the Australian people and that he’ll take steps to get a fair deal from multinational gas giants, considering the groundswell of Australians from across the political spectrum who are calling for this tax as a bare minimum,” Mr Roberts said.
“Eighty per cent of WA’s gas exports did not attract royalties, and yet the industry continues to receive subsidies from both the State and Federal governments.
“Despite companies making billions of dollars from our natural resources, West Australians are wearing the costs. High energy prices, fossil-fuel driven climate change and climate disasters; we’re all poorer because of the gas industry.
“This is an industry immune to the current economic situation; in fact we saw at the Woodside AGM last Friday that CEO Liz Westcott is set to make as much as $14.8 million in 2026. This clearly isn’t a company strapped for cash.
The Prime Minister is repeating lines from the gas industry and lobby groups, while Australians from across the political spectrum are calling for this tax as a bare minimum.
“We made our submission to the gas tax inquiry just last Friday, yet just days later, the Prime Minister is here in town eating bacon and eggs with the fossil fuel lobby, giving them the green light, while the clear majority of Australians are ignored.
“The Prime Minister has a decision to make about where his allegiances lie – with gas industry profit-margins, or Australians doing it tough.
“A flat tax could fund the critical infrastructure needs to deliver the energy transition creating long term energy security and independence.
“We have seen WA Premier Cook backing in the lines from the gas industry – but a state government-funded report was leaked last year warning that Australian gas is crowding out renewables in Asia and delaying the energy transition. It’s not just a risk to Asia, that’s exactly what we’re experiencing right here in Australia.
“You cannot support decarbonisation and the expansion of the gas industry at the same time – we have to map out a transition away from this polluting fossil fuel.
“Gas – as a fossil fuel – is driving climate change and making these events more likely,
more severe, more frequent, and longer lasting. This leads to supply disruptions, reduces productivity, increases costs of everyday goods and services, increases the demand for emergency services, insurance and disaster relief.
“These costs, to communities, to the environment and to the government, are growing every year.
“What better way to pay for the transition that we need - and simultaneously manage a
Phase-out of fossil fuels - than to raise revenue from a dying industry that is actively
promoting the destruction of our life support systems.
“There have been a lot assurances offered to the gas industry, with very little offered to the Australian people.
“We keep on paying the industry to take our resources, and in return the industry will keeps on paying nothing for the damage it causes.”
ENDS
Media contact: John Cooke – 0433 679 780