Delivering Affordable Gas for all Australians

The Turnbull Government will secure domestic gas supply with the introduction of export restrictions to ensure the Australian market has adequate supplies before exports are permitted.

The shortage of domestic gas supplies has resulted in dramatically higher prices in Australia – higher than prices paid in the markets to which Australian gas is being exported.

By ending the shortage, and ensuring the domestic market has adequate supplies, we will ensure gas prices in Australia are lower and fairly reflect international export prices as they should.

Australians are entitled to have access to the gas they need at prices they can afford.

Thousands of jobs depend on secure, reliable and affordable gas.

The Turnbull Government sought commitments from the gas industry, at meetings on 15 March and 19 April, that each east coast LNG exporter would be a net contributor to the market.

While good progress has been made, these requirements have not been met. It is unacceptable for Australia to become the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, but not have enough domestic supply for Australian households and businesses.

That is why the Turnbull Government is introducing the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism which will give the government the power to impose export controls on companies when there is a shortfall of gas supply in the domestic market.

Gas companies are aware they operate with a social licence from the Australian people. They cannot expect to maintain that licence if Australians are shortchanged because of excessive exports.

The Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism will ensure gas supply in Australia always meets the forecast needs of the local market.

The Minister for Resources, in consultation with relevant ministers, will impose export controls based on advice from the market operator and regulator.

If an exporter is not a net contributor to the domestic market, that is, they draw more from the market than they put in, they will be required to outline how they will fill the shortfall of domestic gas as part of their overall production and exports.

The Government will not prescribe how the exporter must respond, giving companies considerable flexibility in finding commercial solutions – such as swapping cargoes out of portfolios or on the spot market.

LNG exporters who are drawing from the domestic market will be ordered to limit exports to ensure local supply.

Those exporters which do not draw more from the domestic market overall, will be licensed to export according to their forecasts.

Securing supply in the domestic gas market will put downward pressure on retail prices in Australia.

The Government remains committed to LNG exports but not at the expense of Australian interests.

This action is expected to apply only to east coast exporters and will comply with our international obligations.

The Government expects the decision to be a targeted temporary measure of repair to restore certainty to the market during this time of transition.

The long term goal remains boosting the supply of gas by removing state restrictions on exploration and development

This is the third part of the Turnbull Government’s strong and concerted action to deal with the gas crisis. We are delivering the outcomes Australians expect.

Together with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s forensic monitoring of the entire gas supply chain, and the reforms to the pipeline and gas markets, the gas security mechanism will secure adequate and affordable gas and give confidence to continue investing in our LNG sector.

Full consultation with industry will now take place with regulations to be in place by 1 July, 2017.

Peng says education for girls is important

Peng Liyuan, the wife of President Xi Jinping, said the education of girls and women is a “noble and significant” pursuit.

Providing women and men with the same opportunities to reach their full potential is a key to promoting social development, gender equality and sustainable development of society, to which education plays a crucial role, Peng said.

Peng made the remarks during an exclusive interview with the UNESCO Courier magazine.

She was invited in 2014 to become the UNESCO special envoy for the advancement of girls’ and women’s education by Irina Bokova, the organization’s director-general.

Peng said she recognized both the great honor and immense responsibilities when Bokova gave her the special envoy certificate in March 2014 at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris.

“Education equality includes equality for opportunity, process and results. What we fight for is to make sure that women have the same opportunities to go to school as their male counterparts, that they are treated equally in education and that they have the same access to higher education, employment and social recognition as men do,” Peng said. “I would like to do whatever I can to reach this goal.”

Peng said she has visited many schools, institutions for the young, and organizations for women’s development in African and Asian countries during her more than two years of service as the special envoy. She hoped to get closer to the reality, learn from their wisdom and strength, and share experience.

The Chinese government has proposed and sponsored the establishment of the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education, for individuals and organizations that contribute to that goal. Last year, Peng and Bokova jointly presented the awards to two winners from Indonesia and Zimbabwe at the first official ceremony in Beijing.

Peng said the award is the first of its kind and by far the only one like it under UNESCO. It aims to encourage more people to devote themselves to the education of girls and women by rewarding individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the area.

Peng said it is a basic national education policy in China to promote education equality and grant everyone with equal access to education. China ensures girls’ and women’s right for education via various means, such as laws and regulations, financial aid and free food for students in poverty.

Women in China have made noticeable progress in self-choice and in personal development, Peng said.

Meanwhile, China is actively trying to spread international cooperation and aid in education. In 2015, Xi said at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment at the United Nations headquarters in New York that the Chinese government will donate $10 million to the UN for the protection and enhancement of women’s rights.

The Chinese government also has set up funds and awards at UNESCO to support developing countries in promoting literacy campaigns and teachers’ training programs to facilitate education for girls and women.

Talking about teaching, Peng, who is a music professor, said a good teacher should be diligent and good at learning, should always have the drive and motivation for creativity, and should keep improving their abilities.

He or she should know how to use culture, aesthetics and arts to help students develop good personalities. They also should be an example for students to see what a kind and generous soul ought to be like, so the students can be better prepared for society, Peng said.

“I will carry out my duty as the special envoy to support UNESCO in improving education for girls and women all over the world. I will do whatever I can,” Peng said.