The future gas strategy has been criticised for misrepresenting the views of traditional owners, with calls for an apology from the federal government.
The Future Gas Strategy maps the Australian Government’s plan for how gas will support the economy’s transition to net zero in partnership with the world.
Greens Senator for Western Australia Dorinda Cox has accused the government of being “deaf” to the concerns of First Nations communities about Australia producing more gas, including fracking the Narrabri region in NSW.
“All of these groups are opposed to gas expansion,” the Yamatji-Noongar woman told the senate economics committee during a budget estimates hearing on Thursday.
“You’ll continue to misquote them … you sit here and say you respect the First Nations people, when you don’t.”
Independent senator David Pocock was concerned that detailed greenhouse gas emissions modelling was not published with the strategy, nor did it model emissions from gas out to 2050 and beyond – the period of time covered by the document
Senator Pocock dismissed the future gas plan as a “rebranded gas-led recovery strategy” that was a hangover from the previous coalition government that failed to consider the climate impact of extracting more gas.
Climate scientists were concerned about a strategy that advocated extracting more fossil fuels, and a reliance on “unproven and costly” carbon capture and storage as a “false solution” to reducing emissions, he said.
“I honestly feel sorry for public servants that have to push policy which, in 2024, is morally bankrupt,” he said.
Senator Tim Ayres, representing Resources Minister Madeleine King, said gas “is necessary for a significant part of our industry”, particularly on the east coast of Australia.
The strategy pointed to a decline in the use of gas but shutting down industry immediately was not the answer, he said.