Australian Gas Exporters Mostly Foreign Owned

An undated handout photo shows Australian resources giant Woodside's Cossack Pioneer oil production facility in the North West Shelf gas project, which produces a third of Australia's oil and half of its natural gas, off the northwest coast of Australia. AFP via Getty Images

Companies exporting gas from Australia are 95 percent in foreign hands, a new analysis from a think tank shows.

The Australia Institute study has found seven out of 10 gas export projects are at least 90 percent owned internationally.

The findings come as households and businesses face soaring gas prices fuelled by increased local and overseas demand.

The institute’s senior research fellow and author of the analysis, David Richardson, says Australians are paying a fortune to largely foreign companies, who are making a windfall during the energy crisis.

“As gas companies lobby for ever-more expansion for export profit, Australians are entitled to ask how this industry is serving the national interest,” Richardson said.

An undated photo of Australian resources giant Woodside's Goodyn A offshore gas production platform in the North West Shelf (NWS) gas project, which produces a third of Australia's oil and half of its natural gas, off the northwest coast of Australia. -/AFP via Getty Images

The news comes as energy Minister Chris Bowen met with industry heads last week, flagging a renegotiation of a contract signed by the former federal government led by Scott Morrison, in order to allow more gas to be redirected from export to domestic supply.

The institute’s analysis also shows the top 20 ASX-listed companies are on average 80 percent foreign-owned.

Overseas investors also have a 51 percent stake in Telstra, despite the company being meant to be have a 35 percent cap on overseas investors. Likewise Australia’s national air carrier Qantas currently os 62 percent under foreign ownership despite it having a 49 per cent limit on overseas investors.

A Qantas plane takes off from the Sydney International airport in Sydney, on May 6, 2021. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Australia’s mining industry was found to be 90 percent foreign owned, including BHP—a company founded in New South Wales—which was 94 percent foreign owned.

The Commonwealth Bank is 81 percent foreign owned.

Polling by the Australia Institute found Australians thought the foreign investment was “too big” despite underestimating the current scale of it.

“This research highlights the need for further work by the government to examine the extent of foreign ownership in Australia,” Richardson said.