Australia is one of the richest countries on Earth. We export more fossil fuels than almost any other nation.
We’re the third largest exporter of gas, coal, and oil combined. Our ground is full of gold, and yet our people are drowning in bills.
Something is seriously wrong.
When oil and gas prices spike, countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia get richer. Their governments fund public services, slash costs for households, and reinvest in their people. Norway has taxed its oil and gas giants and built a sovereign wealth fund worth over $1.5 trillion — enough to fund free university, aged care, and infrastructure for generations.
And us? We hand over our resources to multinational companies, give away over half our gas, and let corporations pay almost no tax through loopholes and deductions. Then we ask students to take on massive debt. We ask pensioners to stretch every dollar. We ask working families to work longer hours just to keep the lights on. We call it a “cost of living crisis” — but it’s a crisis we created.
The reality is this: Australia doesn’t lack money. We lack courage and leadership.
Our Petroleum Resource Rent Tax is a joke. Gas giants can write off expenses for years and avoid paying meaningful royalties. Meanwhile, you and I pay every cent on our bills, our mortgages, our groceries, and our education. This is not fair. It’s not sustainable. And it’s not accidental.
If you’re a homeowner watching your energy bills spike — ask why. If you’re a parent wondering why school costs keep rising — ask where our public money is going. If you’re elderly and struggling to heat your home — ask who’s profiting off your hardship. And if you’re a student taking on tens of thousands in debt — ask why we subsidise gas exports instead of education.
We have the power to build something better. We could tax these companies fairly, protect our domestic energy supply, invest in our communities, and give every Australian a share in the wealth we already own.
Instead, we’ve been told we can’t afford it. That’s a lie. We’ve been made to feel poor in a rich country. It’s time to stop accepting excuses and demand answers. Because this isn’t just bad policy — it’s theft. Quiet, legalised, well-dressed theft of Australia’s future.
We need to raise our voices — not in anger, but in unity. For our kids. For our elders. For every family working harder just to stay afloat in a country that should be overflowing with opportunity. We don’t need to be struggling. We’re choosing to be poor — and we can choose differently
