For more than a decade, Australia Institute research has shown that CCS is one of the biggest and most expensive failures in the history of climate policy in Australia.
The research shows that CCS projects have repeatedly missed deadlines, fallen monumentally short of carbon capture targets and gobbled up billions of taxpayer dollars.
Sadly, detailed analysis of all the available evidence suggests there is little likelihood the epic failure of CCS will change any time soon.
"The gas export industry already gets most of its gas for free. This conference is gas companies saying they want publicly-subsidised infrastructure as well," said Rod Campbell, Research Director at The Australia Institute.
"It's clear that this conference is about helping the gas industry, not about helping the climate. Look at who is attending: all the gas companies and none of the climate organisations.
"Carbon capture projects aren't meant to work. 100% of carbon capture projects on gas-fired power stations have failed. On coal-fired power stations, the rate is 98%.
"It isn't supposed to work, it is supposed to let investors pour money into new gas projects while pointing at spending on carbon capture to avoid any criticism on climate.
"Gas companies don't want to pay for carbon capture themselves, they want taxpayers to pay.
"In 2024, a $700 million carbon capture lobby group told its industry donors to stop giving it money; that it had more money than it could spend.
"Yet at this conference, the same group will tell the government to spend public money on the carbon capture projects it doesn't want to fund.
"The Albanese government has a choice. Look after Australians or look after multinational gas companies.
"That Minister Madeline King is the keynote speaker at this conference suggests that the government has made its choice - give money to gas companies."
