Rising Costs and Industry Claims Under Scrutiny
SYDNEY — Greenpeace Australia Pacific has accused major gas corporations and lobby groups, including Australian Energy Producers (AEP), of benefiting financially from the ongoing conflict in Iran. This comes as Australian consumers face escalating energy costs, a situation Greenpeace describes as ‘warflation’.
The environmental organisation criticised AEP for making misleading claims that gas companies would not see increased profits from long-term contracts. According to Greenpeace, these contracts are predominantly tied to fluctuating international price indices, rather than fixed rates, leading to increased prices aligned with Asian market benchmarks.
Greenpeace’s Head of Climate and Energy, Joe Rafalowicz, highlighted the negative impact of the gas lobby’s actions, stating, “It is disturbing to see the gas lobby exploit the illegal war on Iran to peddle its propaganda and to push for more gas, when the fastest path to lower household bills and energy security is to break free from fossil fuel chokehold as quickly as possible.”
Industry Context and Background
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s recent findings support Greenpeace’s claims, revealing that a significant portion of long-term gas export deals are linked to international price indices. This trend continues to affect the domestic market, where nearly half of the contracted gas volume for 2027 remains commodity-linked.
As the debate over energy costs intensifies, Greenpeace argues that the quickest route to energy security lies in accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. This transition is seen as crucial not only for environmental reasons but also for economic stability, as it promises to lower energy prices for consumers in the long run. By investing in sustainable energy infrastructure, Australia can ensure a more stable and secure energy future, mitigating the impacts of global conflicts on domestic energy markets and prices.
Source: newshub.medianet.com.au
Last updated: 1 April 2026, 10:31 am
