Take a look at the talking points about why banning new fossil fuel export contracts is so urgent, and why doing so would have much less economic impact than you might expect.

Our petition (now closed) was:

To: The Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives and Members of the House of Representatives

The greenhouse gas emissions resulting from exported fossil fuels are not counted in Australia’s emissions figures but nevertheless significantly exacerbate the climate emergency. Emissions from exported LNG (282 Mt/yr) and coal (1,095 Mt/yr) are over twice the size of total emissions within Australia (536.7Mt/yr).

In addition, the growth of LNG exports is the main reason emissions within Australia continue to grow. Emissions resulting just from flaring, venting, and liquefaction of fossil gas are so high that they more than negate the emissions reductions we are achieving in the electricity sector. If all proposed new LNG exports proceed, these pre-shipping emissions will soon be almost as great as the emissions from Australia’s entire electricity sector.

A logical first step in response to the climate emergency is to ban all NEW climate-damaging overseas export contracts. This would not stop existing multi-year contracts, giving importing countries time to transition to renewable energy.

This would have minimal impact on Australia’s economy. Most of the export profits flow to foreign-owned coal, oil, and gas companies. State royalties are much smaller than the public might imagine, and offshore oil and gas projects generally pay no royalties and no Petroleum Resource Rent Tax. A surprising number of fossil fuel companies also pay no income tax. According to University of Victoria analysis, even a ban on all new coal mines in Australia would have minimal impact on jobs and Australia’s economy.

We therefore ask the House to ban all NEW fossil fuel and other climate-damaging overseas export contracts.

Supporting groups

Grey Power Climate Protectors: see here

For you to do

Please write a short email in your own words asking for a ban on NEW fossil fuel export contracts, then send it to all or some of the following MPs:
– Rebekha Sharkie: rebekha.sharkie.mp@aph.gov.au
– Kerryn Phelps: kerryn.phelps.mp@aph.gov.au
– Tim Storer: senator.storer@aph.gov.au
– Adam Bandt: Adam.Bandt.MP@aph.gov.au
– Sarah Hanson-Young: senator.hanson-young@aph.gov.au
– Mark Butler: Mark.Butler.MP@aph.gov.au
– Julia Banks: Julia.Banks.mp@aph.gov.au
– Oliver Yates: oliver@oliveryates.com