Fact Sheets

The ‘Economic Impact of Queensland Petroleum & Gas Sector 2011-2023’ report examined the significant impact the gas sector has made across the state in the past twelve years, particularly in regional Queensland. Commissioned by Australian Energy Producers and conducted by Lawrence Consulting with support from the Queensland Resources Council, the report underscores the industry’s vital role in driving economic growth and supporting local communities. Over the 12-year period, the industry directly spent $80.4 billion in Queensland, comprised of: $9 billion in wages and salaries to an average direct workforce of 4,736 full time employees; $65.8 billion in purchases from an average of 3,135 local businesses and donations to an average of 289 community groups and charities; $646 million in payments to local Governments; and $6.95 billion in payments to the Queensland Government. Click here to view a fact sheet summarising the report. Download Fact Sheet

Queensland’s natural gas and LNG industry has transformed the state’s energy and economic landscape in its first decade of LNG exports, 2014–2024. As well as delivering reliable and affordable gas for Queensland homes, businesses and industries, Queensland gas has injected $127 billion to the state economy and supported around 60,000 jobs. The Economic Impact of Queensland Natural Gas and LNG 2014–2024 report, by Lawrence Consulting, provides a detailed, data-driven analysis of the natural gas sector’s contribution to Queensland’s economy, jobs, government revenue and regional development. The report found that over the period 2014-24, the industry directly spent $58.6 billion across Queensland, including: $42.5 billion in spending with 3,178 businesses and 307 community groups and charities $8.2 billion in direct wages to an average of 4,828 Queensland workers $7.2 billion in payments to the Queensland Government (including royalties, stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax) $695 million in payments to local governments The industry has also contributed: $127 billion to Queensland’s Gross State Product (GSP) $51.5 billion in total wages to an average of 59,729 supported jobs 3.4% of Queensland’s economy 2.4% of all state employment These numbers reaffirm the natural gas industry is keeping Queensland running — powering industry, strengthening communities, supporting jobs, and providing the revenue that funds essential services across the state. Click here to download the report. Download Fact Sheet

Queensland natural gas – A plan for economic and energy security Natural gas is critical to Queensland’s economic prosperity, energy security and our net zero emissions future. Queenslanders benefit significantly from the natural gas sector, including through $2.4 billion in revenue to local and state governments in 2023-24, while also supporting more than 67,000 jobs across the state. A strong gas industry is key to delivering reliable and affordable energy through the net zero transformation, while supporting energy security and decarbonisation for our region. Australian Energy Producers has developed a strategic plan that recognises the importance of natural gas to deliver reliable and affordable energy through the net zero transformation, while supporting energy security and decarbonisation for our region By prioritising these policy actions, the government can attract investment in new gas supply and realise Queensland’s full potential for economic growth and job creation, while safeguarding the revenues that fund schools, hospitals and essential services. Download Fact Sheet

The oil and gas sector is committed to reducing methane emissions from operations in Australia. Under all credible net zero scenarios, natural gas is needed through to 2050 and beyond, as highlighted in the Future Gas Strategy. The Australian oil and gas industry is committed to net zero across the economy by 2050. Reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations has been a priority for the industry for decades and is a central tenant of the sector’s climate change commitment. Australian Energy Producers is a member of the international Methane Guiding Principles (MGP) initiative and support the Government’s commitment to the Global Methane Pledge. Members support a range of international methane initiatives including the MGP, the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 and the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter. Download Fact Sheet

Natural gas is critical to Australian manufacturing, providing 37 per cent of the energy used by the sector. Manufacturing in Australia contributes more than $100 billion to the national economy and supports around 1.3 million jobs, accounting for more than 10 per cent of Australia’s workforce. Manufacturers use gas for high-temperature industrial processes and as an essential ingredient to make a wide range of products and chemicals. Download Fact Sheet

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is critical to reaching net zero in Australia. CCUS can reduce emissions in hard-to-abate industries including cement, steel, chemicals and fertiliser production and produce low-carbon hydrogen. It can also remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through Direct Air Capture (DACC). Download fact sheet

Natural gas is essential to Australia’s energy security, providing reliable and affordable energy to millions of homes and businesses and supporting Australia’s transition to net zero by 2050. Download fact sheet

Australia’s gas industry is essential to our energy security and economic prosperity. Australians depend on locally produced natural gas every day to generate electricity, for household cooking and heating, and for the energy used in manufacturing to make everyday products like steel, glass and bricks. The Economic Contribution of the Gas Industry report by KPMG provides a snapshot of the sector’s contribution to the Australian economy in 2021-22, based on the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data. The report’s findings underscore the importance of Australia’s gas industry to the nation’s economic prosperity. The analysis also shows that new investment in gas projects would deliver substantial economic and employment benefits for Australia. Read the KPMG report at: energyproducers.au/economiccontribution Download Fact Sheet

Powering The Territory is a plan to unlock the energy and economic potential of the NT. Click here to read Powering The Territory 2024 Natural gas is critical to the NT’s economic growth, energy security and a net zero emissions future. The NT’s abundant energy resources are one of the strongest areas of competitive advantage. A strong gas industry will deliver long-term economic and employment opportunities for Territorians, while safeguarding unique environmental, cultural, social and community values. In 2024 the NT has an opportunity to show the rest of Australia what can be achieved when the gas industry, government and the community work together to realise a modern industrial vision. Ongoing support from the NT Government is needed to bring on new gas supply and ensure reliable and affordable energy for the NT. The upcoming NT election is a critical opportunity for the next government to realise the NT’s potential and secure our long-term energy and economic future. Australian Energy Producers has developed a strategic plan to maximise the economic opportunity for the NT in partnership with industry. By prioritising these policy actions, the government can attract investment in new gas supply and unlock the NT’s potential for economic growth and job creation. Download fact sheet

The oil and gas industry is a major contributor to the Western Australian economy and all Western Australians. It provides reliable and affordable energy, supports thousands of jobs, and delivers billions in state revenues to fund schools, roads and hospitals. The industry drives the state’s economy and energy security. Natural gas generates 60% of the state’s electricity to power mining and minerals processing while providing a reliable back-up for growing shares of renewables. The industry is also a major source of investment in cleaner technologies and fuels, including carbon capture and storage and low-carbon hydrogen. WA exports have made Australia a world-leading gas supplier, helping our trading partners secure their energy needs and decarbonise, while underpinning WA’s domestic energy security. Natural gas plays an increasingly multi-faceted role in the state’s cleaner energy future and will be required to meet forecast growing demand. Ongoing investment in new gas supply is critical to ensure the state maintains its enviable energy position. Click the fact sheet below to learn more. WA Has the Energy Fact Sheet Download Fact Sheet

The Australian oil and gas industry is one of the biggest tax-paying sectors, contributing a record $21.9 billion in taxes and royalties in 2024–25 to state and federal governments – equivalent to the annual cost of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This takes the industry’s tax and royalties contribution over the past three years alone to almost $60 billion, reaffirming the industry’s substantial and ongoing contribution to the Australian economy and dispelling the myth that Australia’s oil and gas sector does not pay its fair share. The facts are: The industry is the second-biggest corporate taxpayer, accounting for one in every ten company tax dollars paid. The Australian Taxation Office has confirmed that “some oil and gas companies [are] now amongst the largest taxpayers in Australia”. Commonwealth taxes paid by the oil and gas sector have increased more than tenfold from $1.5 billion in 2021–22 to $18.7 billion in 2024–25. In addition to the oil and gas industry’s significant tax and royalties contribution, the sector is also a key driver of Australia’s productivity and economic growth, representing 3.7 per cent of Australia’s GDP. Economic analysis by KPMG found that as well as having a critical role in Australia’s energy mix, natural gas is powering the Australian economy through high levels of employment and productivity, contributing $105 billion a year to the national economy and supporting 215,000 jobs. MYTH: “AUSTRALIAN GAS COMPANIES DON’T PAY ENOUGH TAX” FACTS • The oil and gas industry is one of the biggest tax-paying sectors in Australia, contributing $21.9 billion in taxes and royalties in 2024–25¹ to state and federal governments—equivalent to the annual cost of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.² • The Australian Taxation Office confirms that “some oil and gas companies [are] now amongst the largest taxpayers in Australia”,³ accounting for 1 in every 10 dollars of company tax paid.² • Commonwealth taxes paid by the oil and gas sector have increased more than tenfold from $1.5 billion in 2021–22 to $18.7 billion in 2024–25, reflecting major projects moving further into their production cycles.³ MYTH: “AUSTRALIAN GAS IS GIVEN AWAY FOR FREE” FACTS • Australia’s LNG sector has invested more than $400 billion in Australia since 2010,⁴ and accounts for much of the gas sector’s $105 billion annual contribution to the Australian economy.⁵ • Around 70% of gas produced in Australia is from Commonwealth waters where the Australian Government’s Petroleum Resources Rent Tax (PRRT) applies in place of a royalty regime, with Treasury estimating gas companies will pay $8.3 billion in PRRT over the next five years.⁶ • Onshore gas projects around Australia paid $2.1 billion in 2024–25 in state royalties and licence fees. MYTH: “OTHER COUNTRIES GET MORE TAX FROM OIL AND GAS COMPANIES” FACTS • Countries like Norway and Qatar have significant direct government ownership and/or investment in their oil and gas sector, which means the government take on more of the risks and share more in the returns. • These same countries also provide generous support and tax breaks to the sector. For example, Norway provides an annual cash refund up to the value of 71.8% for exploration costs to reduce investor risk and encourage oil and gas exploration and development.⁷ • In contrast, countries like Australia and the United States require private companies to assume the considerable financial risk of oil and gas development. CITATIONS Australian Energy Producers Financial Survey, July 2025. 2025–26 Federal Budget. Corporate Tax Transparency, Australian Taxation Office, November 2024. LNG Taxation Estimates and Review, Wood Mackenzie, April 2023. Economic contribution of the gas industry, KPMG, Dec 2024. Budget 2025–26, Department of Treasury, March 2025. The Petroleum Tax System, Norwegian Petroleum, October 2024. Download fact sheet