Gas exporters say plan to keep gas for Australians will push prices up, as Senate committee holds hearing today

The bill would make big gas exporters set aside up to 20 per cent of their gas for Australia. The Greens say Labor went soft.

Confirmed

A Senate committee will look at a plan to keep more Australian gas at home on Friday. The hearing is in Canberra, Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported. The bill would make big exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) keep up to 20 per cent of what they produce for Australians. They would have to do this before selling the gas overseas. Labor first promised a fixed amount of 20 per cent. It has since changed that to a limit of up to 20 per cent. Gas companies are not happy. Samantha McCulloch leads the group Australian Energy Producers. She said the plan "risks driving domestic-focused producers out of the market". She said that would mean less competition and "upward pressure on prices". The Greens are unhappy for a different reason. Greens Senator Steph Hodgins-May said Labor's change was a "pathetic capitulation". That means she thinks Labor gave in to the gas industry. Gas prices matter to everyone. They feed into power bills and business costs. It is not yet known what senators and witnesses will say at the hearing.