Antinuclear

Leaked plan for huge gas subsidies   https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/thebriefing/max-opray/2020/05/21/leaked-plan-huge-gas-subsidies?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20Briefing%20-%20Thursday%2021%20May%202020&utm_content=The%20Briefing%20-%20Thursday%2021%20May%202020+CI    Max Opray  A leaked draft report for the National Covid-19 Coordination Commission details plans for a taxpayer-supported investment into new gas fields and pipelines that would operate for decades.

It recommends helping companies develop the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin and a $6 billion pipeline to connect Western Australian gas markets to the eastern states, according to Guardian Australia. The report was drafted by a manufacturing taskforce headed by the Dow Chemical executive Andrew Liveris, for a federal government-appointed commission dominated by fossil fuel executives.

Other recommendations include that states subsidise gas-fired power plants to support a manufacturing sector that it says could support at least 85,000 direct jobs. The report does not mention climate change or the financial risk of investing in stranded fossil fuel assets. It comes as the Morrison Government unveils its “technology investment roadmap”, with Energy Minister Angus Taylor claiming gas would play an important part in “balancing” renewable energy sources.