I move the second reading amendment as circulated in my name:

That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House calls on the Government to implement a 25 percent gas export tax, which would lower domestic gas prices while raising revenue for Australians who desperately need cost-of-living help".

The Greens will be opposing this bill in the House in its current form and reserving our position in the Senate. This bill poses serious risks to Australia's climate action goals and to political integrity. I'm very concerned that this bill will facilitate new gas infrastructure development in the Beetaloo basin and set off a wave of climate bombs at a crucial tipping point for climate action.

The United Nations gave a very stark warning this week. We've already passed the point of no return for limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. If we want to limit the increase to 1.7 or 1.8, we must make rapid and deep cuts to our carbon emissions. That means not allowing any new gas projects, ending the millions in taxpayer handouts to big fossil fuel corporations and, instead, investing in renewables. This bill does not do that. Instead, it seeks to embed gas into Australia's energy mix for the long term. The Labor government seems totally cavalier in the face of this alarming UN report on global warming—happy just to carry on as if nothing needs to change. Could it be that their willingness to do gas corporations' bidding has something to do with the millions of dollars they accept in donations from the fossil fuel industry? That is the sad story of this Labor government: letting big corporations get away with anything, while pretending there's absolutely nothing the government can do to make life easier for everyday people. It's no coincidence that those big corporations help fund their election campaigns. Follow the money.

Speaking of integrity in our politics, or the lack thereof, that brings me to my second major concern about this bill. By setting up extensive new ministerial powers, including the power to exempt individual gas companies from regulations, this bill creates fertile ground for favours. Some would call it corruptibility. It would build a favour factory between gas companies and resource ministers. 'A few hundred thousand dollars in donations? Thanks very much. We'll put a carve-out in the regulation for you.'

Specifically, this bill allows the minister to exempt gas corporations from the proposed domestic supply obligation. The entire purpose of the bill is to increase domestic gas supply, and yet it gives the minister the power to exempt any company they like. What a joke! We know that the gas companies are very generous donors to both sides of politics—and to One Nation, too. They've covered all their bases. They've hedged their bets. This set-up means it doesn't matter if the government changes. Decisions will always be made in the gas corporations' favour.

To dismantle this favour factory between the gas industry and political parties, my detail amendments will prevent all political donations by the gas exporters regulated by this gas reserve legislation. My amendments will also remove a gaping loophole: the open-ended ministerial discretion to exempt individual gas companies.

Finally—the elephant in the room—this bill still does not tax gas. This government would still allow private gas companies to use our sovereign resources, flog them off overseas, to their enormous profit, and not pay their fair share in taxes. Regular Aussies pay their taxes, but not big gas companies. It's one rule for some and another rule for others. My amendments will therefore also include a gas export tax. It's a no-brainer.

We need to be moving urgently to renewables. But, while they're still allowing gas corporations to extract our resources, that we all own, at the very least we should be getting some tax in return. A 25 per cent gas export tax could raise $17 billion a year to spend on actually making people's lives better. Because it's an export tax, it would put downward pressure on domestic energy prices by disincentivising overseas exports over domestic supply. More than 60 per cent of Australians support a gas tax. When will the government listen to the community and do the right thing?

Without these amendments, I cannot vote for this bill as it stands because it risks our climate. The risks to our climate and the political integrity are too great and it ignores the Australian people's call for a fair return on our resources. Politics should work for people, not for fossil fuel profits.

Why was the gas lobbyist dancing? It was because he knew the Labor government committed to another win for his industry. Why was the gas lobbyist dancing on Monday night last week in a Canberra nightclub? It was because, just that day, the Labor government released their final version of their gas reservation bill, which will incentivise new gas developments and allow the minister to make copious exemptions for them. Why was the gas lobbyist dancing at 2 am to 'Money for Nothing' by Dire Straits? It was because he knew that, if the government passes this weak, watered down, ineffectual gas-reservation bill, it'll help the government weasel out of implementing an actual gas tax. The gas lobbyist was dancing because, if Labor's bill goes ahead, gas companies will continue to get their money for nothing and their chicks for free. They will keep exporting our resources for massive profits and pay little to no tax. The Australian public will be $17 billion poorer every year and gas corporations $17 billion richer.

But here's something that the gas lobbyist doesn't know: the Australian people are not going to let this industry get away with this rip-off anymore. Hundreds of thousands are demanding real action, not fake solutions. Labor must tax gas.