Consumers should not pay more for gas because of exports

MEDIA RELEASE - 23 April 2014

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham today said that households and business should not be forced to pay more simply because largely foreign owned gas consortiums prefer to export gas to Asian markets than supply Australian gas customers.  He said a national interest test should be applied to ensure Australian gas consumers and manufacturers are not adversely affected by gas price hikes. CSG well Pilliga

IPART have made it crystal clear that gas price increases are due to the move to export LNG from the east coast.  The gas supply issue is entirely artificial and should be resolved by proper regulation in the national interest, such as a domestic gas reservation,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“No other country in the world would allow its households and manufacturing to be crippled by unrestricted gas exports.  Australian governments can no longer just leave it to the market, because the market is failing the national interest.

“Premier Mike Baird needs to raise this matter urgently with Prime Minister Tony Abbott and COAG. Australia needs leadership that stands up to the big gas exporters and defends households and businesses against a massive market failure.

“Coal seam gas is not the answer.  The pursuit of CSG will have virtually no impact on the international price.  Neither the government nor the gas companies should use these price hikes as an excuse to let coal seam gas threaten our land, water and communities.

“The $150 - $225 increase to the typical household is unjustified and will go straight into the pockets of the large gas companies, while they divert gas supplies to the export terminals at Gladstone.

“It is unfair that families, pensioners and small business should have to pay more for gas simply so companies such as PetroChina, Petronas (Malaysia), Kogas (Korea), British Gas, Shell (Netherlands), Total (France), ConocoPhillips (USA), Sinopec (China), Santos, and Origin can make large profits through their export LNG consortiums,” he said.

Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916

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