Government Gas Plan Finally Puts Consumers First
Emily Wood | September 15, 2020
Leading advocate for large commercial and industrial energy users, the Energy Users’ Association of Australia (EUAA), has welcomed today’s announcement by the Federal Government that will deliver much needed gas market reform. The suite of reforms announced by the Prime Minister are closely aligned with what the EUAA and its member companies have been advocating for and provides a bright light at the end of the gas crisis tunnel.
“We thank the Federal Government for listening to consumer concerns that have been independently verified in successive ACCC reports over the last four years,” said EUAA Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Richards.
“We are blessed with an abundance of affordable gas so there is no good reason why we cannot have a thriving LNG export industry while ensuring domestic gas users can also benefit from our natural energy advantages. We believe that the policies announced today that address all parts of the gas supply chain, will make a major contribution to getting the balance right.”
Much of our manufacturing and industrial base relies on affordable gas to produce many of the household items we take for granted, like paper, glass, bricks, steel, plastics and fertiliser, while a majority of the food we consume relies on steam from gas fired boilers for processing and purification.
“Gas intensive industries cannot just flick a switch and change to electricity. They either get access to affordable gas or they eventually go out of business. The Federal Government understands this and the need for affordable and reliable gas to underpin economic growth.”
The EUAA released a gas policy options paper in April 2019 that called for significant action by governments and the gas industry to ensure domestic consumers could get access to affordable gas on fair and reasonable terms. Many of the reforms announced today by the Federal Government were contained in that policy options paper and have been central to advocacy by the EUAA and member companies.
“We have wasted too many years tinkering at the edges of gas market reform. Today’s announcement represents a big step forward and we look forward to these key reforms being implemented without delay. Implementation will require some tough negotiations but we expect all parties to recognise the importance of success.”
The EUAA is the peak body representing Australian commercial and industrial energy users. Our membership covers a broad cross section of the Australian economy including significant retail, manufacturing, food and materials processing industries. Combined our members employ over 1 million Australians, pay billions in energy bills every year and expect to see all parts of the energy supply chain making their contribution to delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy supplies.
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Media Contact: Emily Wood 0421 042 121