Mark Butler rows back remarks dismissing gas as Labor divisions exposed

Shadow climate spokesman fronted Sky News to clarify earlier statement that gas would not underpin Australia's future prosperity

The shadow climate minister, Mark Butler, has walked back an observation that gas won't underpin Australia's prosperity in the 21st century after the remarks triggered a fresh round of consternation within Labor - including pushback from union leaders.

In prepared remarks sent to a carbon farming forum on Wednesday, Butler said Australia had found itself with plentiful coal and gas in the 20th century, making us one of the most prosperous societies in human history on the back of these fossil fuels".