The Domestic Gas Strategy released by the Australian Government is welcome recognition of the importance of unconventional gas production to the nation’s energy mix and economic prosperity.
Unconventional gas, including natural gas from coal seams, accounts for 40 per cent of production in the eastern Australian gas market.
It also contributes significantly to our export market as Australia remains on track to be the world’s biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of the decade.”
The government’s commitment to provide communities with more information about how industry is regulated, as well as research undertaken by reputable government agencies such as the CSIRO and Geoscience Australia, is a positive step forward.
As the Productivity Commission recently found, scientific evidence shows that the technical challenges and risks posed by gas development can be managed through a well-designed regulatory regime.
The Domestic Gas Strategy is available at www.industry.gov.au/DomesticGasStrategy