Anthony Albanese rules out gas export tax on existing contracts and criticises ‘populist’ campaign

<p>Prime minister says the middle of a global fuel crisis is ‘the worst possible time to jeopardise’ Australia’s<strong> </strong>partnerships with Asian trading partners</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/apr/29/australia-news-live-aukus-king-charles-one-nation-budget-cost-of-living-inflation-consumer-price-index-jim-chalmers-anthony-albanese-angus-taylor-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a><br></p></li></ul><p>The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has confirmed next month’s federal budget will not include a new tax on existing gas export contracts as he criticised the “populist” campaign calling for a levy on producers.</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/24/labor-albanese-gas-tax-caving-david-pocock-fuel-supply">As reported last week</a>, Albanese was poised to reject pressure to introduce a 25% tax on gas exports amid concerns the intervention could alienate the same Asian trading partners Australia is relying on for supplies of diesel and petrol.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/29/anthony-albanese-rules-out-gas-export-tax-australia">Continue reading...</a>