Madeleine King tells gas industry to temper its criticism and be ‘constructive’ with re-elected ALP

Resources Minister Madeleine King told Australia’s gas industry to temper its public attacks on government policy and instead engage in constructive dialogue with the re-elected Albanese government.

Resources Minister Madeleine King has told Australia’s gas industry to curb its attacks on government policy and instead engage in a constructive dialogue with the re-elected Albanese government after three years of warring over ALP regulatory interventions.

Ms King acknowledged the critical role of gas in Australia’s energy transition but told industry leaders to focus their advocacy on practical solutions rather than rhetoric, speaking at an oil and gas conference in Brisbane on Tuesday.

“Forceful advocacy is one thing, and I guess it has its place, but effective advocacy should surely be your primary objective,” Ms King told the group, including Woodside boss Meg O’Neill and Australian Energy Producers CEO Samantha McCulloch.

Relations between the gas sector and the federal government have remained strained since Labor introduced sweeping market reforms in late 2022, notably the controversial $12 per gigajoule cap on wholesale gas prices. This policy, designed to shield households and manufacturers from soaring energy costs, triggered fierce opposition from producers who claim it has undermined investment certainty and supply security.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the campaign trail in Western Australia and left, Minister Madeleine King. Picture: Mark Stewart / NewsWire

While Ms King stood by the decision, insisting the government was compelled to act amid surging prices, she also sought to strike a more conciliatory tone in her speech, flagging potential areas for co-operation.

“There is a case to be made for the industry and industry groups turning their consultancy spends to practical policy responses instead of CEO surveys,” she said, in a subtle nod to a report released by the gas industry’s peak lobby group this week.

Ms King outlined several areas where collaboration could yield mutual benefits, including reforming environmental approvals and clarifying consultation rules for offshore developments — issues that have become flashpoints for companies such as Woodside and Santos.

Legal uncertainty over who developers must consult has stalled major projects, particularly on the east coast, where delays have been exacerbated by a Labor-Greens deal that sidelined legislative reforms aimed at streamlining consultation processes.

Despite the tension, the government continues to frame gas as a vital transition fuel. Ms King confirmed Labor is reviewing east coast gas supply arrangements and updating offshore consultation rules, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this week reiterated his government’s support for gas as a necessary complement to renewables.

“You can’t have renewables unless you have firming capacity, simple as that,” Mr Albanese said on Monday. “You don’t change a transition through warm thoughts. You do it through a concrete proposal.”

Yet industry leaders remain sceptical. Executives argue that supportive rhetoric must be backed by decisive action, particularly on approvals for long-stalled projects.

A senior industry figure, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described Ms King’s remarks as “two-toned” meaning equal parts defensive of past interventions and an olive branch for the next three years.

Minister for Resources, Madeleine King during Question Time. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“It was interesting. She came in and offered a full defence of Labor’s policy, which was quite confrontational, and then some concessions,” the executive told The Australian.

All eyes are now on the federal government’s looming decisions on key projects. In Western Australia, Woodside’s long-delayed North West Shelf expansion secured state approval last year after a six-year wait — but still requires sign-off from federal Environment Minister Murray Watt. Labor previously delayed the decision until after the next election.

On the east coast, the stakes are even higher. The Australian Energy Market Operator has warned of a potential gas shortfall by 2029, driven by declining legacy fields and protracted delays in bringing new supply online.

Woodside chief executive Ms O’Neill, speaking at the same conference, welcomed last week’s Native Title Tribunal decision clearing the way for Santos’ Narrabri project in NSW, and urged the government to act quickly.

“We have a fantastic opportunity sitting right there in the ground,” she said.

The gas industry will be looking for firm commitments — particularly as Labor balances its decarbonisation agenda with the need to ensure energy reliability and supply.

Originally published as Madeleine King tells gas industry to temper its criticism and be ‘constructive’ with re-elected ALP