• Victoria Pavy and Rhys Lopez aren’t toasting WA’s gas exporters, but want to know why they pay less excise than beer drinkers.

BEER lovers will be asked whether WA’s gas export industry passes the pub test at a gas-themed quiz night in Maylands this Wednesday.

The Conservation Council of WA is hosting the Pub Test on Big Gas event at Seasonal Brewing Co on June 10, featuring the launch of a new blood orange hazy IPA called Dirty Gas Guzzler.

CCWA campaigner Victoria Pavy said the event aimed to highlight what she described as WA’s “great gas rip-off”.

“Ninety percent of WA’s gas is exported overseas, mostly royalty-free,” she said.

“The federal government makes more money from beer excise than from the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax while proposed new gas projects threaten to destroy WA’s coral reefs and boil the planet.”

Brewer Rhys Lopez, whose independent label Evil Mega Corporation created the beer, said he was frustrated Australians paid more in beer excise than the gas industry paid in PRRT.

“The beer excise is paid for by the small percentage of Australians who are beer drinkers, and they’re paying more than these giant gas companies are paying in PRRT for all the gas they’re exporting to the rest of the world,” he said.

Guest speakers include Clare Lagan from the Get Off My Chest campaign against Woodside’s sponsorship of the Fremantle Dockers and researcher Piers Verstegen, lead author of the Australia Institute’s Great Gas Giveaway report.

Perth DJ Rok Riley will provide the soundtrack for the evening.