The Nature Conservation Council and Environment Victoria have criticised Jemena for offering financial incentives to switch to gas in the midst of a climate crisis.“Gas is on the way out, the industry knows it is on the way out, and this is one of those last-ditch attempts to hang on for as long as possible, and squeeze as much profit out of the community.”
Brad Smith, policy and advocacy director at the Nature Conservation Council, said national gas, which consists mostly of methane, was a major contributor to the climate crisis. “Every new appliance connected to gas locks in decades of guaranteed profits for Jemena, and decades of pollution for the rest of us,” Smith said.
Michael Pintabona, a spokesperson for Jemena, said gas has a “lower carbon footprint than coal” and makes more economic sense in Australia.