Politics · Australia · 2 hrs ago
Lambie calls for means-tested subsidies and a gas export tax
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie wants Australia to means-test existing subsidies, including childcare and electric vehicle support, to help cut government spending.
She suggested that higher-income households could receive a smaller childcare subsidy, using a couple earning $500,000 between them as an example.
The government is under pressure to rein in spending ahead of its December budget update, amid persistent inflation and rising cost-of-living pressures.
Lambie also urged the government to consider a 20 per cent tax on gas exports, while the Greens and independent senator David Pocock have backed a 25 per cent tax that they say could raise billions of dollars a year.
The government has rejected a gas export tax, citing concerns about trade relationships with Asian partners and pointing to revenue from an existing tax.
Lambie supports a gas reservation bill that would require exporters to keep up to 20 per cent of their gas for Australian buyers; the bill faces a parliamentary fight this week without support from the Greens or Coalition.
Jacqui Lambie has called for means-testing government subsidies, including childcare and electric-vehicle support, as the government considers budget cuts.
She also urged the government to impose a 20 per cent tax on gas exports to raise revenue.
Lambie said she would support the government’s gas reservation bill, which would require exporters to keep up to 20 per cent of their gas for Australia’s domestic market.
The government has rejected a gas export tax, citing trade relationships with Asian partners and the existing petroleum resources rent tax.
The proposals come ahead of the government’s December budget update.
- Who
- Independent senator Jacqui Lambie proposed the changes. The government has rejected a gas export tax.
- What
- Lambie called for means-testing subsidies and a 20 per cent tax on gas exports. She said she would support the gas reservation bill.
- When
- She made the comments on Sunday, 15 November 2026. The government’s budget update is due in December.
- Where
- The proposals concern Australia’s federal budget and gas exports.
- Why
- Lambie said means-testing could better target assistance and raise money, while a gas export tax could generate revenue.
Gas export tax advocates
Australian government
Tax on gas exports
Gas export tax advocates
Lambie called for a 20 per cent tax. The Greens and independent senator David Pocock support a 25 per cent tax.
Australian government
The government has repeatedly rejected the proposal, citing trade relationships with Asian partners and the existing petroleum resources rent tax.
Lambie called for means-testing subsidies and a tax on gas exports during an appearance on Insiders.
The government is due to face a parliamentary battle over its gas reservation bill.
The government’s budget update is due.
- Childcare subsidies
- Lambie proposed different subsidy levels depending on income.
- Electric-vehicle subsidies
- Lambie said subsidies should be means-tested.
- Gas export tax
- Lambie proposed a 20 per cent tax.
- Gas reservation bill
- Would require exporters to keep up to 20 per cent of gas for Australia’s domestic market.
- Alternative tax proposal
- The Greens and David Pocock support a 25 per cent gas export tax.
What people are saying
We've got to target better in this country.
Means test it all, why not? That's where you'll get some money from.
Start taking our resources back into our own hands, but we're actually making money off out of them.
I don't see this financial situation turning around overnight. And I think we've got a couple of more years of it.