Hung parliament would see huge pressure on gas

Teal MPs and the Greens are demanding an end to new gas projects, complicating Anthony Albanese’s backing of the resource should he find himself needing crossbench support to form minority government.

The crossbench will push for an end to new gas projects in the end of a minority government. Picture: Woodside

Teal MPs and the Greens are demanding an end to new gas projects, complicating Anthony Albanese’s backing of the resource should he find himself needing crossbench support to form minority government.

Of the 22 crossbenchers approached by The Australian, excluding the Greens, nine urged an immediate end to new gas exploration, while another three called for the energy source to be phased out as soon as possible. Three others did not respond.

The Greens, which holds four seats in the lower house and 11 seats in the upper house, said its calls for a ban on new coal and gas would factor heavily into any discussions with government on guaranteeing supply.

“The Greens want to stop Labor from opening up new coal or gas,” Greens leader Adam Bandt said. “If the polls are right, Australia is headed for a shared-power parliament after the next election. The Greens will be pushing for no new coal and gas in a shared-power parliament.”

The latest Newspoll shows a majority of voters expect a hung parliament after the next federal election, as Labor’s primary vote falls to 32 per cent.

The data shows support for Labor is now below its May 2022 election result, raising the potential of the party needing to find allies in its term to guarantee supply and confidence.

Seven of the eight teal independents in the upper house said there must be no new oil or gas projects opened if the government were serious about meeting its obligations under the Paris Agreement to keep temperature increases to 1.5C.

North Sydney MP Kylea Tink said: “Australia doesn’t need new gas projects. We must accelerate the transition towards cheaper, cleaner energy, not open up new gas projects.

“This includes reconsidering resource taxation and pursuing policies that help decarbonise and electrify the economy, and that support renters and households to get off gas.”

Zali Steggall, Helen Haines, Kate Chaney, Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan also opposed opening any new gas projects.

“Any additional fossil fuel project will make the decarbonisation pathway harder for every other sector,” said Ms Chaney, a West Australian MP.

Dr Ryan, the MP for Kooyong and a vocal critic of the Middle Arm project in the Northern Territory, said the government’s gas strategy was “a policy failure” and declared “we do not have a shortage of gas”.

While Wentworth independent Allegra Spender did not call for a ban on new gas projects, she said the government needed to minimise the use of the energy source as much as possible.

“Alongside batteries and pumped hydro, gas will have a role to play in firming renewable energy generation – but that role will be a small one,” she said.

“The government should be helping households get off expensive gas and lower their power bills with rooftop solar and efficient electric appliances.”

However, a number of lower house crossbenchers – including Rebekha Sharkie, Dai Le, David Van and Russell Broadbent – said they would be open to new gas projects being approved. Andrew Wilkie, Andrew Gee and Fatima Payman did not respond to The Australian by deadline.

Bob Katter, Pauline Hanson and Ralph Babet were all critical of the government not doing more to open up new gas projects.

“Why isn’t Australia getting the most out of its gas reserves?” Mr Katter said.

“We want every gas deposit in this country to be opened up with aggression, with the exception where productive agriculture land exists and may be impacted.

“In fact, the former ‘use it or lose it’ mining principal in Queensland should be employed with brutality here.”

Senator Babet said the government’s energy policies were “dangerous” and the free market should be allowed to lead decisions in the energy sector. “In summary, drill baby drill!” he said.

Senator Hanson said the government had “fallen behind” on gas, urging it to open up new gas reserves and establish a national gas reserve policy to mirror WA, where 15 per cent of its gas is quarantined for local use. While disagreeing with Senator Hanson that more gas was needed, Jacqui Lambie agreed a strategy on national gas reservations should be introduced.

Her former colleague, Tammy Tyrrell, said she was focused on cost of living, not “tell mainlanders what they can and can’t do with their gas”.

ACT independent David Pocock called for no new gas projects in the context of winter heat records smashing the country.

While Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe said she opposed the expansion of fossil fuels “on principle”, the former member of the Greens said she was committed to self-determination for Indigenous people and so “would look at the details of any proposed project and listen to local people to form a view”.