Misleading claims about renewables, backed by the influence of the fossil fuel industry, are slowing Australia’s transition to a cleaner and more secure energy system.

The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is driven by public concern about global climate change, the favourable economics of renewable electricity, and now the constraint on oil supply resulting from the war in the Middle East. However, this green energy transition is being slowed by the political power of the fossil fuel industry.

Even though climate science demands an urgent transition, the Australian government still supports the development of new coal mines and gas fields. Furthermore, the multinational fossil gas industry profits while paying little tax on the vast resource it exports each year.

In an interview on the ABC, Minister for Resources, Madeleine King, responded to the question “As minister, why do you think the current system, when it comes to tax for the gas sector, is working well”, with the statement “this is an extraordinarily complex industry…(that) does require…hundreds of billions over many, many decades of foreign investment…building these facilities are complex…thousands of jobs in construction and there are less ongoing jobs…”

The Minister’s reply obfuscated the point, also missed by the interviewer, that most of these investments have already been paid off and there is no need for any new investment in gas fields. Australia has more than enough gas to supply future declining demand in Australia as gas........

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