Sydney, Thursday 7 May 2026 — Greenpeace has criticised the Albanese Government for trying to distract Australians who are calling for a fair tax on gas corporations, with an announcement of a gas reservation policy which has left more questions than answers
The Albanese Government today announced their new gas reservation policy, which will notionally require gas exporters to supply 20 per cent of their exports to the Australian market — but has left unresolved questions about how the reservation will operate in practice, and whether it will protect Australians from high gas prices and the environmental destruction that comes with new gas drilling projects.
On the same day as the Senate is due to release its report into the taxation of gas resources, the Government has also approved a new production license for Amplitude Energy to drill for offshore gas in waters near the Twelve Apostles in Victoria and released even more areas of pristine ocean off the coast of Victoria for gas drilling.
Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “This policy, which on paper makes gas corporations reserve 20 per cent of the gas they currently export, lacks any substantive detail, raising more questions than it answers.
“The only thing that is clear from this half-baked announcement is that the government is using it as a smokescreen to distract from the fact they are still refusing to heed the calls from the overwhelming majority of Australians, who are calling on them to tax gas exports properly.
“Announcing this policy just days before the budget and on the same day the gas tax inquiry report makes that crystal clear.
“On the very same day the Federal Government has also announced a petroleum production permit allowing Amplitude Energy to drill for offshore gas in waters near the Twelve Apostles in Victoria.
“New gas which risks our pristine ocean environment and climate is exactly the kind of destruction we should be avoiding by making gas exporters supply Australians first.“
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Lucy Keller on 0491 135 308 or [email protected]
