Never mind Liberal v Labor – right now, it’s Big Gas v the rest

None of that has stopped the gas industry from trying to convince us for the past few years that a gas shortage is imminent.

Instead of taking responsibility for the problem it is causing, it has relentlessly attacked the Victorian Labor government.

It characterises the state’s banning of gas connections to new homes as “demonisation of gas”, when in fact the government’s attempt to reduce dependence on gas is exactly the right response to an industry-engineered scarcity and price gouging.

All of the major political candidates at this election have acknowledged that there’s “no gas supply shortage in Australia”.

Labor’s Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who admitted at the National Press Club that “a lot gets exported”, was the last to arrive at the party.

Gas producers and their industry associations try to get their voices heard in multiple ways.

One approach is to contribute to major parties’ finances. In 2023-24, Australian Energy Producers disclosed almost $95,000 in contributions to the Labor Party, and a further $77,000 to the Coalition.

Hedging is a good investment approach, but hasn’t worked as a political strategy, which is why it has resorted to outright criticism of the Coalition over its proposed gas reservation plan.

Australian Energy Producers boss Samantha McCulloch says it would be “another heavy-handed intervention” that leaves gas companies “no incentive” for boosting domestic supply.

Asked about the gas industry’s criticism of his gas reservation policy, Peter Dutton bluntly retorted: “Are we here to line the pockets of the gas companies? No.”

AEP has also conducted polling in support of gas to apply pressure to independent MPs in Kooyong and Goldstein. To be fair, neither Monique Ryan nor Zoe Daniel is likely to lose sleep over this.

It’s not just the political parties who are hardening up in the face of the gas industry propaganda.

Every year, the Australian Energy Market Operator comes out with a Gas Statement of Opportunities.

That document forecasts gas use in coming years, and although it consistently shows declining demand for gas, it also warns of potential peak-day shortfalls in the south-east.

It is usually followed by plenty of scaremongering about a “looming gas crisis”.

This year, the report itself was subdued and the media coverage less gullible.

The Sydney Morning Herald said gas substitution policies were making a difference, and even the Australian Financial Review conceded that the prospect of a “gas crisis” had “slightly eased” in the short term.

Many Australians seem to be turning on gas (figuratively speaking). It’s one of the only interesting things about this election so far.