Australia has exported enough natural gas in the past five years to meet domestic needs for more than two decades, according to a new report that has reignited debate over energy policy and national security.
The analysis, conducted by The Australia Institute, found that the federal government permitted the export of gas volumes equivalent to 22 years of the nation’s total domestic demand, even as Australians continue to face soaring energy bills and warnings of potential shortages.
The report claims that low-cost, easily accessible gas has been channelled to lucrative export markets, while higher-cost, more environmentally damaging sources have been left for domestic consumption. In 2023–24 alone, 83 per cent of all gas extracted in Australia was exported — with much of it requiring additional gas just to process for shipment overseas.
Australians, the report noted, now pay between four and seven times more for gas than consumers in other major producing countries such as the United States, Russia, Qatar and Canada.
Retired Air Vice Marshal John Blackburn, a former deputy chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, described the situation as “deeply concerning” from a national security standpoint. “Australia does not have a National Security Strategy or even a recent National Energy Security Assessment — the last was in 2011,” he said. “Allowing the depletion of gas reserves by decades of potential supply for export while Australians face shortages amounts to negligently undermining our energy security.”
Industry figures echoed the concerns. Weld Australia chief executive Geoff Crittenden warned that excessive gas prices were pushing local manufacturers to the brink. “The impact on the price of consumer goods and electricity adds a significant burden on Australian families,” he said.
The report’s findings come amid growing pressure on the federal government to balance export profits with domestic energy stability. As international demand for liquefied natural gas remains strong, critics argue Australia’s dependence on exports could leave it exposed to future market shocks.
The Australia Institute urged Canberra to reassess its energy export policies and introduce stronger domestic reservation measures to secure affordable supply for households and industry — before the country’s gas advantage is lost altogether.
