Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

For the assistance of the member for Blaxland, I will just repeat what I said earlier in the week. The domestic gas mechanism, which would have the effect of restricting exports to the extent necessary to ensure the domestic market is fully supplied, comes into operation on 1 January. The minister has a decision to make about the extent of the restriction on exports to be made, which obviously is based on a lot of industry and expert advice which is being received. As I described earlier in the week, we're already seeing substantial amounts of gas coming into the domestic market. So it is, in a sense, a very rapidly changing environment. So as long as the decision is taken before 1 January, it does not matter when the decision is taken. The honourable member—and I am sure he has done this innocently—shouldn't mislead the House by suggesting that the gas mechanism comes into effect any earlier than 1 January. The minister will make his decision when he is fully informed and able to do so, and then the mechanism will come into place on 1 January.

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