[Gas industry influence] is bad for jobs, bad for climate

Gas is a fossil fuel and contributes to climate change. The taskforce must acknowledge the impact on Australia’s climate emissions from gas and how this affects Australia’s international climate obligations.

In response to news of the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission manufacturing taskforce push for the Federal Government to cut regulations and subsidise new gas projects, Gavan McFadzean, the Climate and Energy Manager at the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said:

“It’s not surprising there is such strong political support for the gas industry when you see how much money the gas and oil sector contributes to Australian political parties.

“Gas giant Santos is one of the biggest fossil fuel donors to both the major parties. Since the 2015-16 donations reporting cycle, Santos has donated $567,537 to the major parties.

“Our democracy is undermined when big corporations have too much influence in politics.

“A report released last week by The Australia Institute and ACF found the gas industry is a very poor target for stimulus and recovery spending, as it provides few jobs, pays little tax and would lock in decades of high emissions and high energy prices.

“The report found investing recovery funds in almost any other industry would create more work for Australians.

“The National COVID-19 Coordination Commission manufacturing taskforce looks more and more like a government-sanctioned gas industry lobby group.

“Gas is a fossil fuel and contributes to climate change. The taskforce must acknowledge the impact on Australia’s climate emissions from gas and how this affects Australia’s international climate obligations.

“Rather than prop up a dinosaur industry that drives climate change and tears apart rural communities, Australia can and should choose a different path to re-build the economy and tackle the climate crisis.”

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