Over the past few months, tens of thousands of Australians have emailed their local MP calling for a 25% tax on gas exports. More than 2,200 people have even chipped in their own money to fund billboards promoting the idea.

Because Australians can see what’s happening.

We see multinational gas companies posting enormous profits from exporting a finite resource while paying less in Petroleum Resource Rent Tax than Australians collectively pay in beer excise. We know our gas belongs to all of us, and we rightly believe we deserve a fair return for it.

That money could help pay down debt, fund aged care, build more affordable housing, invest in protecting and managing the incredible landscapes and species that make this continent so unique or go into a sovereign wealth fund.

Australians are also asking a simple question: why are we one of the world’s largest gas exporters, yet Australian households and businesses pay international prices for our own gas?

Governments of both persuasions have spent decades getting the settings wrong. They’ve put vested interests ahead of the national interest, and Australians have missed out on wealth that should belong to all of us.

I’m concerned we’re about to make the same mistake again. This time, with AI and........

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