Beer, gas and the viral tax fight gripping Australia
6/3/202630 min
Senior writer Myriam Robin and energy and climate reporter Ryan Cropp on the gas tax campaign, who’s behind it, why it took Australia by storm and whether it’s a good idea.
This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband
Further reading:
Inside the online army fighting the gas tax war (and it’s not over)
How a teacher-turned-podcaster, a heterodox economist and a rugby player sparked a groundswell of discontent.
One Nation backs gas tax and new state-owned projects
Party leader Pauline Hanson will unveil a plan to hit oil and gas companies with a new royalty regime while taking state ownership of new exploration.
Korea Gas accuses government of breaking pledge on LNG contracts
KOGAS Australia said the government’s draft gas reservation plan conflicts with its assurance that long-term LNG sales contracts would not be hit.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsLisa Murray· Host0:00
[upbeat music] The Australian Financial Review.
David Pocock· Soundbite0:06
Would it be accurate to say that the, the, the tax on offshore gas exports, PRT, is still giving us less revenue than the tax on beer?
Speaker 3· Soundbite0:16
Uh, can I have a look? Uh, just... Sorry, just bear with me a second.
Lisa Murray· Host0:22
This was the moment independent Senator David Pocock had been waiting for.
Speaker 3· Soundbite0:28
In '25, '26 in my info, taxes on beer, we're expecting 2.7 billion. Taxes from PRRT, 1.5. So, yes, lower.
Lisa Murray· Host0:38
It was at a Senate hearing in February.
David Pocock· Soundbite0:41
How do we live in a country, one of the biggest gas exporters in the world, and we're getting more tax from beer than PRT?
Lisa Murray· Host0:49
And it was always going to be the line that cut through. Everyone from Pocock to Pauline Hanson, to Commonwealth Bank Chief Matt Comyn, and musician Missy Higgins, is talking about a gas tax. The ACTU has suggested a 25% tax on exports. But with fuel security top of mind, the government has ruled it out, at least for now.
Ryan Cropp· Guest1:15
If you go and have a look at Anthony Albanese's Instagram posts about the budget, there's just this absolute flood of commentary from ordinary people, "Tax the gas. Where's the gas tax? Why did you tax us and not the gas companies?" You know, this is not the kind of thing the government will be able to ignore for long.