25 February 2026

 

DURING Senate Estimates last week, Greens spokesperson for resources Senator Steph Hodgins-May asked the Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation of Australia, whether a gas export tax was under consideration as part of the government’s gas market review. No advice had been prepared that he was aware of.

 

Senator Steph Hodgins-May said, “The government’s proposed gas reservation policy won’t guarantee lower prices and it locks in unnecessary new gas projects.

 

“The Greens won’t support it without a meaningful tax on gas exports.

 

“Gas prices have tripled since LNG exports began, yet the companies driving those exports contribute next to nothing in tax."

 

A twenty-five per cent levy on gas exports would prioritise domestic supply without incentivising new fossil fuel projects, and would replace the deeply flawed Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT), which has failed to deliver meaningful returns from LNG exporters due to structural loopholes.

 

The Australia Institute research also shows a 25 per cent tax on gas exports could raise  $17 billion every year, while incentivising producers to prioritise the supply of gas to domestic customers.

 

“Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas,” said Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO of The Australia Institute.

 

“But while Norway, Qatar and Saudi Arabia grow wealthy from selling their gas, the Australian government collects more revenue from taxing beer, cigarettes and even HECS repayments than it does from the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax.

 

“We only get to sell our natural resources once and when governments fail to secure a fair return for Australians, we all miss out.

 

“In Norway, gas exports are taxed heavily and university education is free. In Australia, we export the majority of our gas while young Australians face significant university debt.

 

“This polling shows that Australians from all walks of life and across the political spectrum believe the country is not receiving a fair deal from the gas export industry.

 

“There is clear and overwhelming support for action.”

 

Revenue raised could help compensate households for price impacts driven by exports and accelerate Australia’s transition away from gas, helping to reduce our dependency on fossil fuel.

 

The recent polling clearly shows that voters across the political spectrum are fed up with a system that puts multinational gas exporters ahead of Australian households.

 

A YouGov survey, which was conducted on behalf of the Australia Institute, also found that over half of Australians would support taxing gas exports more to encourage producers to sell more gas domestically, regardless of which political side suggested it.

 

“In what world does it make sense that nurses, teachers or retail workers pay more tax than some of the world’s largest gas exporters?: Senator Steph Hodgins-May asked.

 

“A tax on gas exports would redirect supply back to Australians, raise revenue to ease cost-of-living pressures, and help us move off gas without opening new climate-damaging projects.

 

“It beggars belief that Labor still won’t stand up to the gas giants and tax them properly, while claiming to be serious about cutting energy bills and securing a safe climate future.”

 

Australia is awash with gas, and the YouGov research shows Australians know it. Forcing the gas industry to prioritise Australians ahead of exports would, without doubt, be popular at the ballot box.

 

With all sides of politics finally recognising Australia’s gas export problems, the next Parliament will be in a good position to do something about it.

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