AN artist, an economist, a brewer and a conservationist will walk into a Fremantle winery this Tuesday — and if organisers are to be believed, big gas won’t be laughing.

The Conservation Council of Western Australia and The Australia Institute are hosting a panel event titled Big Gas is Taking the Piss at H&C Urban Winery, taking aim at what they describe as the industry’s outsized influence in Western Australia.

The line-up includes Fremantle artist and author Lucy Peach, independent brewer Rhys Lopez, economist Richard Denniss and CCWA campaigner Greta Carroll.

• Brewer Rhys Lopez, CCWA campaigner Greta Carroll and CCWA executive director Matt Roberts share a pint – and some thoughts on its excise. Photo by Steve Grant

Obsequious

Organisers argue that despite Australia being one of the world’s largest gas exporters, the public sees little return — financially or otherwise — from the industry’s dominance.

“It’s hard to understand why our governments are so obsequious to the gas industry when Western Australians get so little benefit,” Dr Denniss said.

“They let a handful of multinational companies export 90 per cent of Western Australia’s gas and give them most of that gas for free.”

Ms Carroll told the Herald that a possible “windfall” tax on gas which is reportedly being considered by treasurer Jim Chalmers for the upcoming federal budget, wasn’t enough.

“A windfall tax is not enough,” Ms Carroll said.

“A flat tax of 25 per cent on all gas exports is just the first step, and we need to stop foreign countries and the gas industry influencing our energy policies, and we need to stop new gas projects.

“Companies like Woodside and Santos have their sights on further expansion, increasing the risk of toxic spills, carrying out devastating seismic blasting, and causing fossil-fuel induced climate change — all for the sake of more export profits,” she said.

Mr Lopez says beer makers pay more in tax than gas companies, slugged $2.9 billion each year in excises.

“Most of that is actually being paid by overseas multinationals, and so you can actually make those people pay.

“The difference is that the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax is a tax on profits, whereas excise has to be paid based on production.

“If you’re a multinational company, you can move money around and pretend you’re not making any profits and avoid your tax obligation,” Mr Lopez said.

The event is at H&C Urban Winery from 6pm on Tuesday.

by STEVE GRANT