Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Madigan, I do not think I have been able to do appropriate justice to your question in the time allowed. Minister Macfarlane will assist you with that. I would note that consumers are not subsidising exporters and the gas market is competitive and supports different deals at different times. It is these deals and these contracts with customers that underpin investment and supply and transport infrastructure. Australia has ample reserves of natural gas to meet both domestic and export demand, and there are many opportunities that come from being part of the global market. In Queensland, for example, where the first big projects are underway to develop CSG for export, regional areas are flourishing. In Queensland, gas projects will create 30,000 construction jobs and 17,000 ongoing jobs from 2020, and Australia's LNG exports are expected to grow nationally to over $60 billion in 2017-18. Many of these are state issues. But the government agrees more need to be done to— (Time expired)