The Australian Greens are renewing calls for a minimum 25 per cent tax on gas exports, echoing demands today from unions, environmental and climate groups, as gas corporations prepare to cash in on global conflict. Almost none of this expected windfall will be returned to Australia due to the broken petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT).
Last week, Labor, the Coalition and One Nation combined to defeat a Greens amendment calling for the tax, despite polling showing broad support across the political spectrum.
A 25 per cent levy on exports could raise around $17 billion a year, money that could help ease household energy bills and accelerate the shift away from volatile gas and toward renewable energy.
As stated by Australian Greens spokesperson for Resources, Senator Steph Hodgins-May:
"We have some of the broadest support imaginable across traditional party lines for what should be a no-brainer policy.
"Yet Labor, the Coalition and now One Nation have teamed up to do the bidding of gas giants and block a tax on exports in the Senate.
"It shows how completely out of touch the major parties and One Nation are with the pressures facing everyday Australians.
"Households are already being hit at the bowser and as global gas prices spike because of war, they are bracing for more energy bill shock.
"When companies like Santos are negotiating $120 million from a single shipment of gas, it tells you everything about the greed driving this industry.
"One way to support households is by finally taking a fair share of export profits from companies that have been ripping off Australia's resources for decades and are now set to profiteer from war.
"The long-term solution is getting off gas altogether with a fast and fair transition to renewables to shield households from future energy insecurity.
"Sun and wind aren't captive to global supply chains."
