The observations today by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chairman, Mr Rod Sims, on the East Coast Gas Market are welcome progress towards more gas being available in a more competitive marketplace, PACIA said today.
PACIA CEO Ms Samantha Read said, "Australian manufacturing is the largest consumer of domestic gas and importantly, this includes gas used as a feedstock by the Australian chemistry industry. Ensuring the market has new and more diverse sources of gas supply is crucial.
"It is important to note the Commission’s observation that downstream gas users are competing in a global market place where every input needs to be provided at peak efficiency.
"We have current investments in Australia where gas is a non-substitutable input. A balanced, market-based response that recognises these investments and their importance to the national economy is valuable progress in meeting COAG’s Gas Market Development Plan. We must also provide the confidence and certainty needed to encourage new investment which in turn will create jobs and contribute to economic growth," said Ms Read.
Media contact: Krista Imberger – [email protected] or 0439 318 290
PACIA is the national voice for the strategically significant $45 billion Australian chemistry industry, one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the country. The industry employs more than 64,000 people and contributes more than $11.5 billion to GDP in industry value add. Ranging in size from small family-owned businesses to national and multi-national enterprises, PACIA members include chemicals manufacturers, importers and distributors, logistics and supply chain partners, raw material suppliers, plastics fabricators and compounders, chemicals and plastics recyclers and service providers to the industry.
