News
23 December, 2025
ACOSS warns high gas prices are hurting regional NSW households
The Australian Council of Social Service has taken aim at gas exporters, saying high energy prices are hurting households in regional NSW while multinational companies reap massive profits.
The Australian Council of Social Service has taken aim at gas exporters, saying high energy prices are hurting households in regional NSW while multinational companies reap massive profits.
ACOSS says communities outside the major cities — including regional centres like Goulburn and across southern NSW — are bearing the brunt of rising gas and electricity costs, forcing low-income households to make impossible choices.
“There is no gas shortage in Australia,” ACOSS climate and energy program director Kellie Caught said.
“The problem is a system that allows multinational gas companies to export around 80 per cent of our gas while local households are priced out.”
Ms Caught said gas exports were pushing up domestic energy prices, flowing through to higher power bills, rising inflation and increased pressure on household budgets.
“In regional communities, people on low incomes are skipping meals and delaying medical appointments because they simply can’t afford their energy bills,” she said.
ACOSS said the impact was particularly acute for renters, First Nations households and low-income homeowners in regional areas, where housing is often older, poorly insulated and heavily reliant on gas.
The organisation is calling for measures to help households transition away from gas, warning that continued reliance on the fuel was locking families into higher costs and poorer health outcomes.
ACOSS is also urging the introduction of a gas export levy, arguing multinational producers should return more of the profits generated from publicly owned resources.
“People in Australia are being ripped off while gas giants profit,” Ms Caught said.
“In regional communities, the costs are being felt now — and people are running out of options.”
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