Shell Australia welcomes chance to contribute to PM’s gas talks

Shell Australia chairman Andrew Smith said industry welcomed the opportunity to discuss issues facing east coast gas customers with Prime Minister Turnbull today.

He said the industry understood community acceptance of a gas export industry depended on a reliable supply of gas to Australian workplaces and homes.

“We understand that if we want a long term export industry we need to make sure Australians have gas available at competitive prices,” he said.

Smith said Shell’s QGC project had signed a number of domestic gas contracts recently, including with AGL and Alinta, which will help maintain supply across eastern Australia during the forthcoming winter.

He said the project had already reduced LNG export shipments to supply additional gas to the domestic market.

“But if we want to see a competitive price for gas we must develop additional local supply - particularly in Victoria.

“If not, every Victorian household and business will pay more for gas than they need to. In the state that depends most on gas, this means less jobs, less investment and a higher cost of living.”