In a powerful and impassioned address to the Australian parliament, Labor MP Ed Husic has launched a scathing critique of the nation's gas industry, demanding immediate action to secure cheaper fuel for Australian households and businesses.
A Call for National Priority on Gas Resources
Ed Husic argued forcefully that Australian gas should be sold to Australians at fair prices as a fundamental principle. He articulated a clear stance, stating, 'Our gas, our prices: that should be the bedrock, the cornerstone of our thinking.' The MP expressed deep frustration with the current system, where he believes overseas buyers profit significantly from Australian resources while dictating terms to the nation.
'We cannot tolerate being lectured to by overseas buyers telling us what we can do with our gas when they on-sell the gas they get from us to make a massive profit,' Husic declared. He specifically called for the nation to 'have the guts' to confront Japanese companies who engage in this practice of reselling Australian gas for substantial profit.
Criticising a 'Fundamentally Distorted' Market
The Labor MP did not hold back in his assessment of the current market structure, labelling it as 'fundamentally distorted'. He warned that minor adjustments would be insufficient to solve the core problem. According to Husic, 'tinkering at the edges' of reform is not a viable solution.
His speech highlighted the perceived injustice of a situation where Australia, a major gas producer, effectively 'begs for the scraps' from large, profiteering gas companies. This powerful rhetoric underscores the depth of his conviction that the existing arrangement fails to serve the national interest.
The Political and Economic Ramifications
By breaking ranks with his own party's official line, Ed Husic has placed significant political pressure on the Labor government to take more assertive action on energy policy. His public demands signal internal debate over how to handle the powerful gas export sector and address domestic cost-of-living concerns tied to energy prices.
The call for reform puts the spotlight on the relationship between Australia's resource exports and its domestic energy security. Husic's intervention suggests a growing impatience with a market model that prioritises export revenues over local affordability. The speech is likely to fuel further discussion about government intervention in the gas market to protect Australian consumers from global price surges.
