Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources) Share this | Hansard source

In the last estimate hearings, Minister Farrell committed that the government would not break any long-term LNG export contracts with our international allies. This amendment now jeopardises the development of future gas supplies in Australia for both export and domestic use. There remains considerable risk of gas shortfalls, as forecast by the ACCC and AEMO, and of course this flows on to considerable risk to the jobs of all those Australians employed on these projects. I want to understand whether or not Minister Farrell has told our international partners, like Japan and Korea, that the government is now actively targeting promising new gas suppliers in the Beetaloo with their water trigger. Or has Assistant Minister Ayres, who parades himself as a champion of the manufacturing industry, told Australian manufacturers that their gas supply may now be at risk because of yet another secret deal done with the Greens political party, who just want to shut down their gas?

I want to turn again to the amendments on sheet SF110, circulated at around 6 pm this evening. The sheet has a list of unconventional gas production definitions, which are markedly similar to the definitions introduced by the Greens in their proposed water trigger. Minister, in the amendment on sheet SF110, is it possible to vary the definition of 'unconventional gas' under section 528(d), which states 'any other sources prescribed by the regulations'?