A federal minister has been promoting Australia’s gas export capabilities on the world stage. 

Resources Minister Madeleine King has been on a week-long visit to Japan and South Korea, addressing concerns from both countries about the longevity of Australia's gas exports.

Her assurances, particularly towards the under-construction Scarborough and Barossa gas projects, have sparked debate among climate advocates.

Takayuki Ueda, CEO of Japanese energy firm Inpex, last year accused Australia of “quiet quitting” the gas sector, raising alarms over investment climate and potential shifts towards less allied suppliers like Russia, China, and Iran. 

In response, Minister King, during a speech in Tokyo, stressed Australia's commitment to gas exports, highlighting projects like Barossa and Scarborough as pivotal to Japan's energy transition.

“As we look to the future, I want to assure our friends in Japan that Australia will remain a trusted and reliable partner on gas,” King said, emphasising the projects' roles in meeting regulatory approvals and contributing to regional energy security.

The claims were challenged almost immediately. 

Climate advocates, including Jen Rayner from the Climate Council, argue that prioritising gas contradicts global moves towards decarbonisation and overlooks the environmental and social impacts of such projects. 

The approval processes for Scarborough and Barossa projects, both of which have advanced despite legal and environmental scrutiny, have been particularly contentious.

Australia's reliance on gas exports is linked to broader economic and strategic interests. Also, the current and previous federal governments have relied on gas as part of the nation's plans for net-zero emissions by 2050, and in supporting Japan's decarbonisation efforts. 

“We each have a pathway to find net zero emissions by 2050, and a sensible means of getting there is what we really need,” King noted, dismissing radical shifts away from gas as economically detrimental.