Call for 25% levy on gas exports: fossil fuel giants must pay Australians back

Australia's peak state conservation organisations have today released a joint statement demanding the Federal Government immediately implement a 25% levy on all Australian LNG exports.

This call comes in light of the unfolding conflict in Iran, a horrifying attack that has killed more than 1000 civilians, and is driving extreme volatility in global energy markets. This turbulence is creating massive windfall profits for gas companies at the expense of ordinary people in Australia.

Massive multinational gas corporations are exploiting global conflicts and price volatility to make obscene profits, while everyday Australians face soaring energy bills and a deepening cost-of-living crisis.

Furthermore, the climate crisis fossil fuel companies are driving is wreaking havoc across the nation - from unprecedented flooding across the Northern Territory and Queensland, algal blooms destroying the marine environment in South Australia, bushfires raging across Victoria and NSW, and bleaching of Ningaloo Reef in WA.

Environment Victoria, the NSW Conservation Council, the SA Conservation Council, the Environment Centre NT, the WA Conservation Council, the ACT Conservation Council, Environment Tasmania and the Queensland Conservation Council today called on the Federal Government to immediately implement a 25% levy on Australian gas exports, arguing that fossil fuel companies are ripping off Australian households and must be made to pay for the climate damage they cause.

"It is a national disgrace that while Australians struggle to are struggling with a cost of living crisis, multi-billion dollar gas companies are exporting our national resources and paying virtually no tax," said Kirsty Howey, Executive Director of Environment Centre NT.

"These companies are essentially ripping off Australians, profiting from global instability, and sending the benefits offshore", said Simon Copland, Executive Director, ACT Conservation Council.

"Our politicians like to talk about fairness a lot - but how is it fair that these fossil fuel companies rake in profits off our resources while giving us almost nothing in return?", said Matt Roberts, Executive Director, Conservation Council of WA.

The groups join a growing chorus of voices demanding the government implement a meaningful tax on gas export revenue. The revenue raised would be used to provide compensation to Australian households and invest in the necessary transition to a renewable energy economy.

"The logic is simple: polluters should pay for the damage they are causing", said Queensland Conservation Council Acting Director Anthony Gough. "Households across Queensland are grappling with the double whammy of a summer of floods and a cost of living crisis, while fossil fuel companies rake in massive profits and send our gas overseas."

"For decades, these companies have polluted our planet and contributed to the devastating climate disasters we are now facing. Now they are profiteering from a global energy shock" said Jacqui Mumford, CEO, NSW Conservation Council.

"A 25% levy on gas exports is the least the government can do to deliver a fair return to the Australian people and hold these giants accountable for their environmental cost" said Jono La Nauze, CEO, Environment Victoria.

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