The Australian Labor Party looks set to include a new tax regime for the export gas industry in their party platform at next week’s ALP National Conference in Adelaide, according to reporting in the Australian Financial Review over the weekend.
Sun 19 Jul 2026 01.00 AEST
Photo: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese talks during the the 2026 NSW Labor state conference (AAP Image/Steven Markham)
The Australian Labor Party looks set to include a new tax regime for the export gas industry in their party platform at next week’s ALP National Conference in Adelaide, according to reporting in the Australian Financial Review over the weekend.
The idea of a 25 per cent tax on gas exports, which is already supported by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), has received wide support across the country, uniting politicians from all sides of politics, big business and environmental organisations in a broad and ever-growing coalition.
Disability organisations and housing advocates have also added their voice to calls for a tax on gas exports, arguing the money raised would help properly fund essential services for vulnerable Australians.
Research from the Australia Institute has shown a 25 per cent tax on gas exports could raise $17 billion annually.
According to the Nobel Prize winning economist, Professor Joseph Stiglitz, it is a ‘no brainer’ for Australia to tax its gas exports.
It is great news that the Labor Party seems on the verge of adopting this simple policy which will not only be good for the Australian economy. It will help restore faith in Australia’s democracy among the growing number of Australians who think their governments are no longer willing to stand up to foreign companies.
Polling by RedBridge shows there is also support across party lines for the idea, including strong support from One Nation and Greens voters. The polling also showed that One Nation voters were more likely than the Greens to agree that Australia exports too much gas.
A recent push for a plebiscite into the issue has already attracted more than 60,000 signatories and continues to grow.
“A 25 per cent gas export tax is one of the few big issues that straddles the political divide in Australia. One Nation voters and Greens voters are both strong supporters of getting a fair deal for Australia’s gas exports,” said Richard Denniss, Co-CEO of the Australia Institute.
Dr Denniss will be speaking on ‘A 3-Point Plan for Gas’ at an event at the ALP Conference Fringe Festival this Thursday, along with Labor MP Ed Husic and Thomas Mayo.
Details surrounding Labor’s proposal remain scarce, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese playing down the significance of the front page story in the AFR during a press conference on Saturday morning.
“The AFR have put two and two together and came up with 87,” Mr Albanese said.
Dr Denniss said, “while it is clear that Labor Party members and voters want a gas export tax, the continuing apathy from the Prime Minister highlights just how important public pressure is.
“The Government will only tax gas exports when it fears a voter backlash more than it fears another tantrum from the foreign owned gas export industry,” Dr Denniss said.
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