Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

The Morrison government is a very strong supporter of the resources industry. As Senator McMahon knows, the resources and energy sector plays a critical role in creating jobs and investment in regional Australia, particularly in her home territory of the Northern Territory. The sector has always been a key pillar of Australia's economic prosperity. It is one of the largest employers and it employs the highest proportion of Indigenous Australians—3.8 per cent compared to 1.7 per cent for all other industries. The sector will also be crucial for Australia's recovery from the COVID pandemic. Recent figures have confirmed the strength of the sector. It generated $290 billion in exports in 2019-20, despite the very challenging operating environment we all found ourselves in over the last year.

Our government is absolutely committed to working with the sector to bring on the next wave of investment in new oil and gas developments. In fact, the Prime Minister said very recently, 'Central to our agenda is getting access to our domestic gas supplies.' We're absolutely committed to remaining a top LNG gas exporter and that's why we are investing in a gas-fired recovery as part of our JobMaker plan. Our investment of $52.9 million in the 2020-21 budget focuses on three very specific key areas of the gas supply chain: $10.9 million for the Gas Infrastructure Plan; $28.3 million for five strategic basin plans to unlock new gas potential, starting with the Beetaloo Basin; and $13.7 million to extend the CSIRO's Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance. We want affordable gas for manufacturers, businesses and households. We want Australian gas to work for all Australians.