One Nation unveils policy aimed at taxing gas industry

Today’s announcement by One Nation of its policy to charge the gas industry royalties instead of giving them the gas for free reflects the views of voters across the political spectrum.

Polling from RedBridge Group has shown wide support across the political spectrum for a 25 per cent tax on gas exports.

It shows that One Nation voters are more likely than Greens voters to support a gas export tax, although both voter groups were in strong agreement.

One Nation’s policy announcement comes just one day after Independent Senator David Pocock threw his support behind a 25 per cent tax on gas exports.

Australia Institute research shows the Australian Government allows the export of more than 80 per cent of Australia’s gas, and it gives largely foreign-owned gas companies most of the gas they export for free.

Revelations that beer drinkers pay more tax than the gas industry have also caused widespread outrage.

It has previously been pointed out that nurses also pay more in tax than gas companies, and the government collects more revenue from students paying HELP/HECS fees than from the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax.

“It is clear the Federal Government is increasingly out of step with voters on taking on the gas industry,” said Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO at The Australia Institute.

“Australians have clearly had enough of our governments giving our gas resources away for free and failing to tax the gas industry properly.”

In a social media post, Senator David Pocock asked, “why aren’t major party politicians more aggrieved that we’re giving away so much of our gas for free?”

“We’re in this ridiculous situation where, as one of the biggest gas exporters in the world, we have the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax collecting less revenue than beer tax,” Senator Pocock said.

“This needs to change, and it needs to change with a 25 per cent tax on gas exports.”