As the political landscape in Australia heats up with the approach of the election, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has laid out his vision for the nation’s energy future, with a particular focus on the National Gas Plan. This plan promises to shake up the way Australia manages its gas resources, with potential impacts on energy bills for everyday Australians.
However, Mr Dutton has ruled out promising any tax cuts during the upcoming election campaign, citing the $1.2 trillion debt detailed in the budget papers. ‘I would love to introduce tax reform and tax cuts, but the Labor Party has racked up what we now see in the budget papers of about $1.2 trillion of debt,’ he said following his budget reply speech on Thursday night.
Dutton’s strategy revolves around redirecting gas, originally destined for export, back into the Australian energy grid. This move is aimed at alleviating the pressure on east coast energy bills, which have been a point of contention for many households. By introducing an ‘east coast gas reservation’, Dutton estimates that an additional 10 to 20 per cent of New South Wales and Victoria’s gas needs could be secured.
The plan is not just about increasing supply; it’s also about insulating Australians from the volatility of international markets. ‘Gas sold on the domestic market will be decoupled from overseas markets to protect Australia from international price shocks,’ Dutton explained. This decoupling is expected to drive down new wholesale domestic gas prices from over $14 per gigajoule to under $10 per gigajoule.
However, Dutton’s speech was not without its controversies. Despite the Coalition’s past enthusiasm for nuclear energy, including plans to build seven nuclear reactors by 2050, the word ‘nuclear’ was mentioned only sparingly in his 4,300-word address, with gas taking the spotlight.
The National Gas Plan also includes a ‘fit-for-purpose gas trigger to safeguard supply’, ‘Use it or lose it’ rules to prevent offshore gas fields from being banked and reducing competition, and a commitment to audit development-ready projects that could boost supply in Australia’s southern states. Dutton’s vision is clear: ‘This plan will prioritise domestic gas supply, address shortfalls, and reduce energy prices for Australians.’
Critics, such as Cabinet minister Jason Clare, have been quick to dismiss the gas policy as insufficient and a distraction from the Coalition’s less popular nuclear policy. Clare pointed out that Labor had already secured a significant amount of gas, enough to power Queensland for two years, and had reduced the price of gas from around $30 a gigajoule down to $12 per gigajoule.
Beyond energy, Dutton’s pre-election promises extend to other areas of concern for Australians. He has flagged a ‘significant funding commitment to defence’, in line with the challenges of the times, and has proposed halving the fuel excise for a year, which could save households and businesses between $700 to $750 per vehicle annually.
Mental health, particularly among the youth, is another area Dutton has pledged to support with a $400 million investment, alongside doubling the Medicare rebate for psychology sessions. On the immigration front, Dutton has proposed a 25 per cent cut and hinted at stricter caps on foreign students, though specific numbers have yet to be disclosed.
In terms of workforce development, Dutton has announced a plan to boost apprentices and trainees by 400,000, with incentive payments for employers and a $12,000 grant payment to small and medium businesses to support trainees in their first two years of training. This proposal would take the place of Labor’s initiative to offer $10,000 in staggered payments to apprentices in construction-related fields as they complete their training.
As the election draws near, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expected to call it on May 3, the Coalition is positioning itself as the party of practical solutions to the cost of living and national security. With the latest polls showing a tight race and Albanese maintaining a lead as the preferred Prime Minister, the Coalition’s policies, including the National Gas Plan, will be under intense scrutiny as voters decide the direction they want the country to take.
What are your thoughts on the potential impact of Peter Dutton’s National Gas Plan? Do you believe reserving gas for domestic use could effectively lower energy costs? How might this policy affect Australians in the long run? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Also read: Money back in your pocket? Election promise offers potential $700 savings
You have to start with the knowledge that politicians are only in it for whatever they think they can offer to maintain their lucrative jobs, they lie! The only reason Labor has managed to get a fake surplus is because of the vast amount of income they have received from mining, coal and iron ore have saved Labor from putting us into a recession. Most sensible countries around the world realised that only concentrating on renewables is not going to save the planet or bring down the cost of energy, tax cuts only bring down the cost of living for those actually paying tax, it doesn’t help people on social welfare or pensioners who are struggling to survive, Dutton’s plan does nothing to help people who don’t drive or don’t use gas. Same old rhetoric from both sides.
Yes Labor has lost the plot. Not sure if Dutton is any better but I would rather vote for him. Even a Nationals Leader would be better. I am on a disability pension and my increase was 4.70.
His gas promise doesn’t mean anything as gas is being phased out.
Already new houses no longer have gas stoves. We have solar and wind energy to replace toxic gas for domestic use.
No matter what promises, and we all know promises are just like the song from Dalila “parole, parole”, Dutton is bad news as he follows Trump’s views.
Please look back at history.
If Dutton follows Trump’s views (and sadly he doesn’t to an adequate extent) he’s very good news. Trump is reviving the American economy. He’s restoring common sense and decent moral values. Sure, he’s controversial, and easy to dislike. But there’s a reason why so many Americans love him. He’s doing what is necessary (though not necessarily popular!) to revive the economy and restore health to society. Stop believing the rubbish some media spew and examine the reality. We need to get back to basics. We need to reduce the size of government. And if you read Trump’s strategy for ending the Russia/Ukraine war, it’s brilliant. Like him or love to hate him (and he’s easy to hate), he’s doing good.
I only wish Dutton were following Trump’s example.
MG, Gas is not being phased out but continuing to be connected with gas stoves being installed. Look outside Victoria.
Within Victoria domestic residences can still install gas heating and stoves, it’s just that new installations cannot be connected to existing reticulation systems.
The backward policy of Victorian Labor on gas is causing hurt in the pockets and homes of many as they become locked into a single energy source.
A quick view of the NEM energy mix across the States shows that Victoria is very dependent upon their (brown) coal power stations for affordable and reliable power when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Which happens more often then Chris Bowen would ever admit. (And this coal power generation is there twenty four hours of every day.)
Peter Dutton and the LNP coalition really need to have more than a whisper in the ear of the Victorian Labor Government about their idiotic gas policy. Get them to lift the ban on new NG connections and reconnect the Schools across the State. Lift their moratorium on gas exploration and harvesting.
Victoria sits on very large reserves of natural gas sitting in coal seams waiting to be harvested that would give Victoria energy independence and lower their domestic energy prices at all levels.
It’s all very well for Jason Clare to say that they have secured sufficient gas for Queensland for two years, but what about the rest of the country and what happens after two years?
Federal action needs to be taken to disarm the lawfare that several activist groups are taking against bringing natural energy sources into the mix.
If, due solely to political reasons, Australia is unable to pull back from the wasteful, expensive and inconsistent renewable energy policies, and get our coal and gas power generation back up to meet the full demand without financial penalty, Australia will be needing to consider more than seven nuclear power stations beyond 2050.