QRC welcomes federal commitment to develop gas resources

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the Federal Government’s new proposals to increase gas supply in the domestic market, but warned their success would hinge on the free ride coming to an end for other states.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the proposals announced today, including looking at options for a prospective gas reservation scheme, could help increase supply for domestic use, supporting jobs and industries.

“The free ride for NSW and Victoria is over. But you can’t reserve gas that hasn’t been developed, so it’s time for the southern states to end their unscientific, politically-motivated bans on gas projects,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“For too long, the southern states have been coasting off investments made in Queensland, while refusing to develop their own resources.

“NSW and Victoria cannot expect Queensland to continue to do all the heavy lifting while they do nothing.

“Queensland has been successfully implementing a type of prospective reservation scheme whereby tenements are released to develop gas solely for domestic use," he said.

“This is a plan that will also work in other states, but only if those states come to the table and open up their own gas reserves.

“Ensuring affordable and reliable gas is one of the key economic issues for Australia, so we welcome the commitment from the joint portfolios of the Treasurer, the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia and the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction to address this task," Mr Macfarlane said.

“The QRC hopes to see further co-operation at both the COAG Energy Council and the COAG meeting of State and Territory leaders later this week.”

www.qrc.org.au

ends