Phasing out gas would benefit Australian manufacturers and households | Richard Denniss

The Australian government should allow the electricity industry to wean itself off gas

Rather than drill new fracking wells into prime farmland, the quickest, cleanest and most economically efficient way to boost the supply of gas in Australia is to stop wasting it.

According to the Australian Industry (AI) Group's budget submission, Ramping up support for manufacturers to transition from gas to electricity - from gas boilers to heat pumps - would both cut costs and allow them to lower emissions with onsite or offsite renewables." I couldn't agree more. And there is literally no better time for the federal government to support private investment than in the middle of a recession in which many factories, and many suppliers, have spare capacity.