Developing new gas supply is crucial to maintain advantage - The Australian

The Australian reported that developing new gas supply is necessary to sustain Australia's competitive advantage in energy markets. The piece argues for continued investment in gas infrastructure and exploration to support both domestic needs and export revenue.

Where this fits

This story sits at the heart of the reliability and cost problem the renewables-only transition is creating. As Australia phases coal plants ahead of firm replacement capacity, gas becomes the backstop that keeps the grid standing during weather lows. A renewables-first policy that treats gas as temporary, rather than as essential firming infrastructure, creates perverse incentives: less investment in gas means tighter margins, higher costs, and more vulnerability to supply shock. The sovereign question is also clear: new gas from domestic fields keeps energy security in Australian hands, whereas reliance on imported liquefied natural gas (whether from Qatar, the US, or elsewhere) cedes control to strategic partners.

What it means

Without reliable, dispatchable firming, the cost of a renewables-dominated grid climbs steeply. Overbuilding solar and wind capacity to manage weather variability, then burning expensive gas when the sun does not shine and wind does not blow, is far costlier than building the right mix upfront: some firm, low-emission nuclear baseload, paired with renewables where they make economic sense. Gas alone is not a long-term answer to emissions, but pretending Australia can run on weather alone, while simultaneously undersupplying the gas that currently provides grid stability, is not a viable energy strategy. It is a recipe for cost blowout and dependence on whoever controls the import terminals.