Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

As I indicated in my answer to the previous question, we need to develop more of our gas reserves and resources in this country. We need to develop those in Victoria and other places in our nation. To do so, we will need the support of local communities and those affected by gas development. If we do not have their support, it is going to be very difficult to do the development.

So we welcome the decision of the South Australian government to put a percentage of royalties towards landowners to help build that support. We think this is what should happen. We should have more governments act in this direction. Obviously these are matters for the state governments, but the Victorian government's approach right now is unsustainable. The Victorian government minister said last week that she wants Queensland to send their gas all the way down to Victoria to help them out of a jam. She is asking Queensland to do gas developments that she herself has banned in Victoria. It is complete hypocrisy, it is unsustainable and it will not solve Victoria's energy needs because it is too far from the manufacturing needs of Victoria.