Sarah-Jane Tasker: Spotlight on energy future comes at perfect time

Federal Resources Minister Madeline King this week backed in Australia’s gas sector, saying it will be needed “for decades”.

She was keen to vocalise her support for gas as the Government pushed through its safeguard mechanism, which will require the nation’s 215 biggest industrial polluters to cut overall emissions by roughly 30 per cent this decade. It’s a move the gas industry has cautioned will derail future investments.

Ms King’s comments came ahead of a speech in Canberra by Takayuki Ueda, the boss of Japanese gas giant Inpex. In the strongest comments yet by the head of a global company, Mr Udea warned the consequences of Labor’s “well-intentioned policies”, including the safeguard mechanism, will be that the Pacific region’s increasing energy demand will be met by coal and not by natural gas — not the outcome Labor is hoping for. He also noted Ms King and Anthony Albanese’s support of the gas export industry but urged them to find the “political courage” to convert that support “into deeds”.

The world is undergoing a major energy transition — it’s in motion and companies were already pushing in that direction before government intervention. Gas has a key role to play in the push to be “greener” and it’s important these policies don’t have unintended consequences.

These issues will be discussed at The West’s Resources Technology Showcase conference on Tuesday — perfect timing to hear from the world’s largest companies and top politicians as the country navigates the challenges ahead.