Beetaloo Gas Project.

9 September 2026

ALAN HAYES

TIMING couldn’t be more cynical, with Albanese in Palau yesterday for the Pacific Islands Forum talking up Australia’s climate leadership, and back home Resources Minister Madeleine King celebrated the first gas flowing from the Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory on the very same day.

You just cannot make this sh*t up!

Despite the government claiming green credentials, Beetaloo gas is now flowing, after the Albanese Government backed its development despite the enormous climate consequences.

The NT and federal governments have spent $535 million subsidising the gas industry since the fracking moratorium was lifted in 2018, and the opening of Beetaloo is a climate bomb that will speed up dangerous climate change, putting us all at risk - yesterday was a terrible day for the climate.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Larissa Waters said, "While people are hurting as the cost of living soars, Labor is subsidising this climate bomb with public money, giving millions that should be going to building homes, schools and hospitals to boost corporate profits instead

.

“Labor’s backing Big Gas over Australians, by throwing billions at gas corporate subsidies, refusing to tax gas exports fairly, and cutting funding to services we all rely on including the NDIS.

The elephant in the room, which Albanese has now conceded is that Beetaloo gas could quickly end up powering energy-hungry data centres, driving a new surge in demand for gas.

Despite the government's claims that Beetaloo is the holy grail, Independent analysts have rejected claims that the gas will be a silver bullet for Territory jobs and industry. That’s just spin from an industry looking to get rich off gas. An industry that doesn't pay its fair share.

Meanwhile, Territorians have already been forced to subsidise this risky industry to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.

So, why is the government asking Australians to bankroll new gas projects while refusing to ensure Australians get a fair return from the gas that belongs to them.

The gas industry gets the subsidies and the profits, while everyone else gets the climate bill, along with the shaft.

“Pacific Island leaders see through the Prime Minister’s spin and his double speak, as do Territorians and the Australian public,” said Australian Greens spokesperson for resources, Senator Steph Hodgins-May.