Japanese gas giants’ Canberra lobbying record exposed
Japanese companies interested in gas exports have met with Australian policymakers at least two dozen times in recent years; One analysis suggests that the narratives put forward by both countries are not compatible with global climate goals.
Japanese firms including INPEX, JERA and Mitsubishi Corporation have around $70 billion ($50 billion) of equity invested in 13 Australian liquefied natural gas export projects, according to research by climate think tank InfluenceMap.
of the report author Jack Herring was surprised by the size of his financial stake.
“This serves to tie Japanese corporate interests directly to Australia’s gas export economy,” InfluenceMap’s Australia program manager told AAP.
Australia is a major gas supplier to Japan, but in recent years the importer’s practice of selling gas to other markets, namely Southeast Asia, has come under scrutiny, particularly amid warnings that Australia may not have enough fuel to meet domestic needs.
According to estimates from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, around 600 to 800 petajoules of Australian gas were sold by Japanese companies to other Asian markets in 2024; this amount is comparable to eastern Australia’s annual domestic gas consumption.
InfluenceMap says four tactics are being used to continue expanding the fossil fuel industry: investment, lobbying in Australia, government influence in Japan, and public and political “narrative capture.”
Through freedom of information requests, it has been identified that there have been at least 24 meetings between Japanese companies and Australian ministers and officials since Labor came to power in 2022.
Mr. Herring said the two dozen meetings were “the tip of the iceberg” and that it was impossible to know the full scope without mandatory ministerial journal disclosures and other transparency reforms.
The report also included briefings, released for the first time, for Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King ahead of a visit to Japan in October 2024, which repeatedly emphasized Australia’s commitment to “promoting targeted investment in new gas projects in Australia”.
Pro-LNG narratives have also been tested by scientific guidance on meeting global climate targets set out in the Paris agreement.
Widespread descriptions of gas as a “transition fuel,” as well as its importance to energy affordability and security, were considered inconsistent with scientifically based ways of staying within the 1.5°C warming limit.
Mr Herring said continued investment in the LNG industry could delay decarbonisation in both Australia and the wider region by locking in decades of gas production.
He pointed to a Deloitte report commissioned by the WA Labor government and leaked in 2025 that found gas could “eclipse investment in renewable technologies”.
A spokesman for Ms King said regular meetings with industry stakeholders were part of her role.
“Japan has been a strong and valued investment partner for Australia’s offshore LNG industry,” the spokesman said.
A JERA spokesman said the company, like many businesses in Australia, was in regular contact with state and federal governments and regulators regarding the operation and management of LNG projects in which it was involved.
“Australian LNG contributes to Japan’s reliable and affordable gas supply while creating valuable jobs and income in Australia,” the spokesman said.
Bill Townsend, INPEX senior vice president, said the company has taken a “bipartisan approach to government involvement” and highlighted the jobs and tax contributions created by the Ichthys LNG project it operates.
“We are actively working to support Indo-Pacific energy security while helping the region reach net zero by 2050, as detailed in our INPEX Vision 2035 strategic roadmap,” he said.
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