Peter Dutton is asked about the gas reservation policy which materialised last week after it became obvious that nuclear was not going to get the Coalition through the election campaign.

Here are some facts on gas:

Key points:

• 80% of Australia’s gas is exported. Gas export corporations use more gas to operate their export terminals than Australians use for electricity or manufacturing.
• Gas exports have tripled wholesale gas and electricity prices.
• Woodside’s North West Shelf export gas project is already draining Western Australia’s onshore domestic gas reserves.
• New gas projects are too expensive to reduce gas prices. Australia’s low-cost gas is being exported, leaving only high-cost gas.

“Gas prices in eastern Australia have tripled as production has tripled. The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome,” said Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor at The Australia Institute.

“It’s ridiculous to try and solve a gas shortage caused by excessive gas exports by approving even more new gas export projects.

“Woodside’s North West Shelf is draining Western Australia’s domestic gas reserves and has tripled wholesale gas prices. Extending it for another 50 years would be a disaster.

“The only way to keep Australia’s gas for Australians is to cut exports.”