Albanese rules out gas tax during WA visit, but east coast reservation not far off

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given his firmest commitment yet that his government will not introduce any new taxes on Australian gas companies in his first visit to Western Australia since the Iran conflict began.

Albanese gave the commitment on Wednesday morning at a Chamber of Minerals and Energy breakfast event at the Westin Perth, which was interrupted during the breakfast service when three Disrupt Burrup Hub protesters stormed the stage and chanted slogans calling for Woodside’s Browse project to be blocked.

In his speech, Albanese talked up Australia’s reliability as a gas supplier to Asia, which had helped him secure more liquid fuels for Australia during the global oil supply shock stemming from the Iran conflict. The prime minister said now was not the time to jeopardise that.

“The quality and reliability of Australian agriculture, Australian resources and Australian gas has been critically important to the assurances we have received for future supplies of petrol, diesel and fertiliser,” he said

“In other words, our gas exports are directly linked to our national fuel security, and the middle of a global fuel crisis is the worst possible time to jeopardise these relationships or the investment that underpins it.

“That is why I can confirm that the budget will not undermine existing contracts on gas exports.”

Albanese did not rule out changes to future gas export contracts, instead flagging the previously announced east coast domestic gas reservation policy – modelled after the WA government’s 15 per cent reservation policy – was close to being finalised.

Albanese’s comments disappointed conservation groups and politicians including Senator David Pocock, who have been pushing for a 25 per cent tax on all gas exported from the country, arguing the industry had not been paying its fair share for the product.

When asked whether he would consider a windfall profit tax on gases as a result of higher prices stemming from the Iran conflict Albanese said: “There has been no windfall profit. Gas prices remain the same as they’ve been.”

At the breakfast, Albanese also announced the government would jointly fund a $1.1 billion upgrade to Anketell Road in Perth’s south, in preparation for a new container port in Kwinana to eventually replace WA’s only container port at the Fremantle inner harbour.

He also announced $45 million to hasten the delivery of bilateral agreements signed between states and the Commonwealth to authorise state environmental protection agencies to conduct environmental assessments on behalf of the Commonwealth.

The three protesters who disrupted the breakfast service – a 19-year-old woman, 19-year-old man and 18-year-old man – were quickly rushed off stage and later issued move-on notices by police.

Woodside’s new chief executive Liz Wescott, federal Resources Minister Madeliene King and WA Premier Roger Cook all attended the breakfast.

Protesters also set up outside the hotel.

A climate protest staged a drum circle, while pro-Palestinian protesters held placards outside the Westin’s main driveway.

Albanese seemed unfazed by the security breach.

“I continue to say people have a right to protest by all means and to express their views, but they should do so in a way that it is appropriate, and we work with security agencies on this,” he said.

“I would say that we need also to, as I’ve said continually, we need to turn the temperature down on public debate.”

CMEWA chief executive Aaron Morey welcomed Albanese’s gas tax commitment but acknowledged there was wriggle room.

“Certainly, it has not been explicitly ruled out definitively, but the prime minister did make a very clear commitment that any changes would have to follow significant consultation with industry on these measures,” he said.

“Insofar as that has not occurred, we are confident that the budget won’t include any significant new taxation measures.”

However, Conservation Council of WA executive director Matt Roberts said failing to tax gas companies was a wasted opportunity to finally hold the industry to account.

“We’re hoping the prime minister is listening to the Australian people and that he’ll take steps to get a fair deal from multinational gas giants, considering the groundswell of Australians from across the political spectrum who are calling for this tax as a bare minimum,” Roberts said.

“Eighty per cent of WA’s gas exports did not attract royalties, and yet the industry continues to receive subsidies from both the state and federal governments.”

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