‘Not going away’: gas tax push burns on despite PM snub
Supporters of a gas export tax have vowed to keep pushing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese until the next election as an investigation into the proposal dashed hopes it would be included in the budget.
The Greens-led parliamentary inquiry into the taxation of Australia’s gas exports will publish its final report on Thursday.
But proponents of the change are pessimistic that it will be included in Tuesday’s budget after Mr Albanese ruled out the possibility of a new tax.
Instead, it has prioritized maintaining the country’s reputation as a reliable gas supplier to its Asian trading partners to ensure fuel supplies.
Greens Senator Steph Hodgins-May and Independent David Pocock will argue in favor of a new tax in the report, while Labor and coalition members of the committee will recommend against it.
But Greens Leader Larissa Waters will vow the minor party will continue to fight for the new tax beyond the budget.
“We will not stop pressing for gas companies to pay their fair share and for ordinary Australians to enjoy the benefits of cheaper, cleaner energy,” he said in Sydney on Thursday.
Instead of Labor’s plan to create a gas reservation scheme that could boost gas use, Senator Waters will seek revenue from a new export tax to help accelerate the electrification of freight transport, according to part of her speech to the Smart Energy Council.
The campaign for a 25 per cent tax on gas exports, led by Senator Pocock and the Australia Institute, has won broad community support in recent months.
Left-leaning think tank claims tax would bring in $17 billion in extra revenue each year
Senator Pocock said the campaign would not end.
“It is inexcusable for the Albanian government to side with multinational companies when there is now such broad support for increasing revenue through a gas export tax,” he told AAP. he said.
“We can be a reliable trading partner and fuel security ally while also earning a fair return for our gas.”
The gas industry argues it currently pays around $22 billion a year in taxes and royalties and that the export tax proposal would make future projects financially unsustainable.
