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

I do welcome the support we have received from I think all sides of politics on this particular measure. As I mentioned, I think we all recognise it is a major issue for our country; however, it is complicated by the fact that we do have state and territory governments locking up gas supplies in this country. The only long-term way to deliver affordable gas in this country is to develop gas in this country. For those who are concerned about the price, affordability and availability of gas in this country, please do not come in here and start talking about how we should shut down gas developments while at the same time expressing crocodile tears for those businesses and industries that do not have enough gas at the moment.

We have to make sure that we are determined to supply affordable gas energy in this country, and that means making decisions to develop gas in Victoria, making sure that we do not ban techniques that have been used for more than 100 years, like the Victorian government has done, and making sure that we do not put moratoriums on the Northern Territory, where there are enormous gas resources available. We want to achieve affordable energy in this country for Australians, but to do so we have to develop our resources.