“At this time, many manufacturers view the code of conduct as one-sided and devoid of any real pricing metrics,” he said.
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“We are not against them [gas producers] make a profit, but we are against them doing it in a way that puts pressure on other parts of the economy.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spearheaded the Labor Party’s election campaign to develop the local manufacturing sector, which currently relies heavily on gas power and struggles to compete with low-cost international competitors.
“This is a government that was elected with a mandate to revitalize the manufacturing sector. We believe it is in the national interest,” Husic said.
Manufacturing Australia chief executive Ben Eade said last month following King’s supply deal that the government had the option of providing cheaper gas to Australian buyers “but they chose to do not do it”.
Meanwhile, CSIRO is embarking on a $90 million research mission to address the biggest technical challenges facing Australian industries on the path to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Resources Minister Madeleine King struck a deal with gas producers in September.Credit:James Brickwood
The federal government has pledged to cut emissions by 43% from 2005 to 2030 and the bulk of the reductions will come from shutting down coal-fired power plants and switching industrial polluters to clean technologies.
But some industries can make the transition easier than others.
Transportation may switch from gas-powered cars to electric vehicles and costs continue to fall, but there are currently no commercially viable large-scale green steel mills or widespread use of food additives to reduce greenhouse gas-laden burps. Australian herd greenhouse.
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“Transforming these hard-to-shrink industries and regions is critical to our country’s future prosperity,” said CSIRO CEO Larry Marshall.
The federal government, including the Climate Change Authority, will work with CSIRO on solutions.
“There are a lot of opportunities out there for the Australian industry, but we’re not going to stumble on them,” Husic said. “It’s going to take coordinated work and that’s why it’s good for government, CSIRO and industry to work together.”
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, opinion and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up for our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.
