Resources Minister Madeleine King says fresh outbreaks of conflict overseas underline Australia’s importance as a trusted supplier of gas, as she pushed back on industry concerns that the Albanese government was more focused on destroying demand for gas than stoking investment in new supply.
The flare up in the Middle East comes after Ms King and Energy Minister Chris Bowen spent the weekend with major Japanese gas customers in Melbourne and assured them Australia would be a reliable supplier.to soothe industry concerns that the government’s Future Gas Strategy is focused on destroying demand for gas at a faster rate than supply falls. These concerns were prompted by the release of a discussion paper linked to the strategy.
Labor’s nuanced narrative on gas stands in stark contrast to federal opposition energy spokesman Ted O’Brien, who told the Summit on Monday that “we need more gas, and lots of it”.Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen will also address the Summit on Tuesday to argue that hydrogen will be crucial to helping Australia reach net zero and could also create a $50 billion industry with 16,000 jobs by 2050.