The Beetaloo Basin Inquiry in the Senate has heard government acquiesced to Santo’s submission that gas fracked from the basin was intended for export.
Department of Industry officials point to the tax benefit that the industry provides Australia, however, cannot say how much tax gas companies make.
Research has shown that WA makes just 1% of its tax revenue from its offshore oil and gas industry with many large gas companies, such as Santos paying virtually no tax over the past six years despite making $23bn in total income.
Callum Foote was a reporter for Michael West Media for four years.