Gas decision leaves Aussies exposed to more price hikes
The Climate Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY 20 MARCH, 2026
The Albanese Government has just approved a new gas export project, leaving Australians highly exposed to volatile international markets and rising costs of living.
The project is approved until 2081 – more than three decades after Australia plans to finish its switch to clean energy – and brings the Albanese Government’s tally of new climate-polluting projects to 36 coal, oil and gas projects approved since 2022.
Climate Councillor Greg Bourne said: “Digging up and exporting more gas directly exposes Australians to price hikes driven by global conflict, as we're seeing play out right now. Since fossil fuel corporations began exporting gas from the east coast of Australia, domestic gas prices have surged, leaving Aussies to foot increasingly high power bills.
“Rather than approving new gas export projects that enrich corporations, the Government can better protect Australians against price rises by limiting non-contracted gas exports and taking decisive steps to ensure Australia puts our own energy needs first.”
The Climate Council welcomes reports that the Prime Minister is considering proposals for a tax on gas exports, which would help ensure multinational gas corporations pay their fair share for the public resources they are profiting from. This should be part of a broader effort to permanently secure Australia’s energy independence and a safer future by getting off fossil fuels entirely.
Climate Councillor Greg Bourne said: “True energy security comes from power sources that no foreign conflict can disrupt, abundant clean power like solar and wind, backed by storage like big batteries. Sunshine isn’t prone to price spikes, and wind power can’t be withheld. We should be accelerating renewable energy and storage so we’re more resilient to external shocks.”
The APLNG gas export project in Queensland will generate millions of tonnes of climate pollution, increasing climate risk for communities and undermining Australia’s climate targets by:
- Running 1,695 gas wells for up to 30 years – well past Australia's 2050 net zero target.
- Generating up to 9 million tonnes of domestic climate pollution from extracting the gas – about the same as every local flight in Australia for a year.
- Releasing more than 110 million tonnes of climate pollution from burning the gas – more than every car, ute, truck, train, bus and domestic flight in Australia combined last year.
- Exporting most of the gas overseas, as Australia already produces more than enough gas to meet domestic demand without new supply.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said: “The Government says it is committed to cutting climate pollution, but approving new coal and gas projects is like lighting another cigarette while you’re trying to quit smoking. You cannot cut climate pollution if you keep approving more projects.
“The climate maths doesn’t stack up. This project is approved until 2081 – more than three decades past the point where Australia is supposed to have finished the switch to clean energy. You cannot reach a balanced carbon budget by approving new long-lived gas fields.
“This is the Government’s 36th coal, oil and gas approval since 2022. After a summer marked by record heat and destructive flooding, communities are already living with the consequences of climate pollution. Approving new sources of pollution only increases the harm.”
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