Gas Market Review Must Result In A More Competitive Market For Domestic Energy Users
Emily Wood | July 1, 2025
The release of the Gas Market Review Terms of Reference (ToR) signals the start of a critical six months for the domestic gas market where we can either take a giant leap forward to secure affordable gas supply for domestic energy users, or Australian households and business can continue to be collateral damage as unwilling participants in a volatile global gas market, said leading advocate for the sector, the Energy Users’ Association of Australia (EUAA).
“Past attempts by governments to ensure Australian households and business get access to Australian gas at fair prices and on reasonable terms have not delivered the outcomes that governments and energy users had expected”, said EUAA CEO Andrew Richards.
“We are encouraged that the Gas Market Review ToR, released yesterday, is focused on investigating the reasons for our perilous situation and on achieving the right things being more gas, more competition and better outcomes for domestic energy users.”
Release of the Gas Market Review ToR coincided with the release of the latest ACCC Gas Enquiry Report which showed looming shortfalls and an uncompetitive domestic gas market that continues to be dominated by the LNG export industry. This latest report clearly identifies a number of critical issues that must be resolved by the Gas Market Review including the role of the LNG exports play in either supporting the domestic market or making it worse.
“It is clear from this latest ACCC report that while some LNG exporters are supporting the domestic market with meaningful quantities of gas, others are not. This situation must be resolved by the Gas Market Review which could include obligations on all producers to supply the domestic market via a combination of prospective domestic gas reservation and diversion of uncontracted gas (spot cargoes) into the domestic market.”
It is also encouraging to see governments understanding the critical role that gas will continue to play in the domestic economy as heat for households and business, feedstock for large industrials and fuel for gas fired peaking generation.
“Gas is vital to ensuring we have warm homes in winter, that we can continue to produce food, paper and building materials and to energy market stability, which is why it needs to be affordable and reliable.”
“We look forward to working with governments, the gas industry and our member companies to reset the gas market via the review to ensure we quickly move to a workably competitive market for all stakeholders.”
The Energy Users’ Association of Australia (EUAA) is the peak body representing Australian commercial and industrial energy users. Our members are the engine room of the Australian economy, producing many of the products that households and business use every day including bricks, glass, steel, aluminium, paper, food and beverages. Combined our members employ over 1 million Australians, pay billions in energy bills every year and in many cases are exposed to the fluctuations and challenges of international trade.
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Media Contact: Emily Wood 0421 042 121