Greens Propose Gas Export Tax to Shield Australians from War-Driven Prices

Senator Steph Hodgins-May calls for 25% export tax to decouple domestic market from global volatility.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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As global gas prices are expected to surge again due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Australian Greens spokesperson for resources Senator Steph Hodgins-May has proposed a 25% tax on gas exports. The goal is to help shield Australian households and businesses from the impact of war-driven price spikes by decoupling the domestic market from volatile global prices.

Why it matters

Australia is a major gas exporter, and increases in global prices are quickly passed on to local consumers, contributing to a cost-of-living crisis. A gas export tax could help generate revenue for the government and insulate the domestic market from global volatility driven by geopolitical conflicts.

The details

Senator Hodgins-May argues that Australia does not have a gas shortage, but rather an export problem, with massive volumes of gas being shipped overseas. She believes that if the government had implemented a 25% export tax as proposed late last year, it could have already collected billions in extra revenue to help offset the impact on Australian households and businesses.

  • In 2022, the global price of gas surged to record highs due to a major conflict.
  • The Greens proposed a 25% gas export tax at the end of 2025.

The players

Steph Hodgins-May

Australian Greens spokesperson for resources and Senator.

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What they’re saying

“The last time the world saw a major conflict in 2022, the global price of gas surged to record highs.”

— Steph Hodgins-May, Australian Greens spokesperson for resources and Senator (Mirage News)

“Because our gas system is still rigged in favour of massive exporters, increases in the global market price are also dumped straight onto households back home.”

— Steph Hodgins-May, Australian Greens spokesperson for resources and Senator (Mirage News)

“A tax on exports would help decouple Australia's domestic market from volatile global prices.”

— Steph Hodgins-May, Australian Greens spokesperson for resources and Senator (Mirage News)

What’s next

The Australian government will need to consider the Greens' proposal and weigh the potential benefits of a gas export tax against any potential drawbacks or unintended consequences.

The takeaway

As global conflicts continue to drive volatility in energy markets, the Australian government is facing pressure to find ways to shield domestic consumers from the resulting price spikes. A gas export tax could be one tool to help decouple the local market from global forces, but it would require careful consideration of the broader economic impacts.