David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. How many petajoules supply of gas risk being lost to the domestic market because of Labor's gas price cap impact on investment, including Senex Energy's decision to put $1 billion in investment in the Surat Basin on hold indefinitely?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm just going to ask the leader to read that question again, because I couldn't—

Government members interjecting—

Order! Members on my right! I ask the leader to state the question.

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Including Senex Energy's decision to put $1 billion in Surat Basin gas investment projects on hold indefinitely.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We thank the opposition for their question. I must say it represents a very significant level of courage for the opposition to come in and ask about a package that they opposed, to ask what impact it has, when they sat there and voted against it on multiple occasions. They say there's no courage in Australian politics. I beg to differ! The chutzpah is very impressive from those opposite. In December we put to the House a very simple proposition: that Australian gas companies should be required to sell Australian gas, from under Australian soil and Australia seas, to Australians for a reasonable price—for $12 a gigajoule—going forward. Those opposite think they should be able to charge unreasonable prices. That's their position—that they should be able to charge unreasonable prices. The fact of the matter is that, in 2021, 96 per cent of gas was sold for under the cap. Those opposite say it's a disaster, that gas companies should be able to sell for more than that. We say it's reasonable and we say Australian gas companies should continue to supply gas at reasonable prices, and we're confident they will.