<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>341493</docID> <postdate>2025-03-31 10:09:55</postdate> <headline>Fines for gas giants if energy not set aside at home</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-341494" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250330132735772218-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Anthony Albanese has hosed down fears of a fracture in US relations as further tariffs loom. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Andrew Brown</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Energy exporters will face significant fines if they don't comply with coalition plans to set aside gas for the domestic market, the opposition says.</strong></p> <p>As Opposition Leader Peter Dutton uses day three of the election campaign in the NSW Hunter region to focus on energy, his proposal to establish an east coast gas reserve is back in the spotlight.</p> <p>Coalition campaign spokesman James Paterson says the plan to set aside gas meant for exporting for domestic use will bring down energy prices, despite concern from gas companies.</p> <p>"If that's necessary to drive the gas into the domestic market, then we're prepared to resort to fines to drive it into the markets (if they don't comply)," Senator Paterson told ABC radio on Monday.</p> <p>"We've got hundreds of years of supply under our feet. We just have to take advantage of it."</p> <p>While the opposition says the gas reserve will bring down household power bills, it hasn't specified how much households will be better off under the plan.</p> <p>The coalition says the gas plan will bring more immediate relief for power bills before its proposal to build seven nuclear reactors, including one in the Hunter region, to come into effect in the mid-2030s.</p> <p>But Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says the gas plan is merely a distraction from nuclear.</p> <p>"Past performance is a predictor of future performance, and we inherited a bin fire from them, and they've opposed every step we've taken to reduce gas prices over this term in government," she told ABC radio.</p> <p>"We've strengthened the Australian domestic gas security mechanism so we can direct gas to be reserved for domestic use if there is a shortfall."</p> <p>Anthony Albanese will begin Monday in Western Australia, which helped Labor secure victory in 2022.</p> <p>The prime minister will unveil federal funding of $200 million for an upgrade of a Perth hospital alongside WA Premier Roger Cook.</p> <p>It's expected the upgrade will be among several health-related announcements made by Labor this week.</p> <p>It comes as fresh tariffs set to be imposed by US President Donald Trump threatens to cast a shadow on the election campaign.</p> <p>The announcement of the tariff expansion on Wednesday has been touted as "Liberation Day" by Mr Trump, with fears Australia could be affected.</p> <p>Tariffs of 25 per cent have been imposed on steel and aluminium, but concerns have been raised other industries such as agriculture and pharmaceuticals - two of the largest US exports - will be hit next.</p> <p>Defence Minister Richard Marles said the relationship between Australia and the US remained strong despite the tariff threat.</p> <p>"The alliance remains fundamentally important in terms of our bilateral relationship," he told ABC TV.</p> <p>"We will be focused on our national interest and any arrangements that we do, with any country including the United States, will have Australia's national interest at the forefront."</p> <p>Despite previous criticism of Australian ambassador and former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd, Mr Dutton said the coalition would not change the diplomatic role.</p> <p>"I want Kevin Rudd to succeed because our country will succeed and I will appoint Mr Rudd as the ambassador," Mr Dutton said on Sunday.</p> <p>"When we were in government we were able to negotiate the AUKUS arrangement as a coalition government with a Democrat administration."</p> </body>