The gas industry should be transparent about its future. So should MPs and the media

Woodside Energy has big expansion plans, including opening controversial gas fields off Western Australia that are sometimes described as ‘carbon bombs’. Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images

You don’t see many government ministers turning up at coal conferences these days. The industry will continue for a while – thermal coal power still provides about 60% of electricity on the east coast, and exports this year top $60bn – but it is broadly agreed it’s on the way out.

The same cannot be said for gas, the other fossil fuel that Australia excels at digging up and selling overseas.