Never waste a fuel crisis: the Albanese government must seize the moment and start taxing gas companies

The Greens, independents and One Nation are all calling for either a tax on gas or for the industry to pay much, much more at the same time as fuel prices soar. Photograph: Jay Kogler/AAP

The first rule of politics is to never waste a crisis. The current fuel crisis due to the Iran war is one the Australian government needs to seize. The old political concerns about taxing gas companies are now dead. Should the Albanese government fail to act it should not be surprised if voters angry at rising petrol, gas and electricity prices begin to look elsewhere.

Earlier this month, the independent senator David Pocock asked the Senate if it was true that Australians paid more in beer excise than gas companies did in the petroleum resources rent tax (PRRT).