Time to tax gas exports

April 14, 2026

Blind Freddy can see that Australia needs to properly tax its gas companies. We deserve a fair return for the resources extracted from our land, and we need to see gas producers pay for the enormous climate damage their operations cause.

Currently, the public is left carrying the costs: worsening climate impacts, rising insurance premiums, and the looming bill for cleaning up ageing gas infrastructure. The gas industry’s business model shifts environmental and economic burdens onto the community, and the Albanese government is allowing it to continue.

As Matt Pollard and Tim Buckley explain, the precedent, mandate from unions and business leaders, public support and Treasury modelling for a 25 per cent gas export tax are in hand. All we lack is the political will.