Australia gas security faces fitness test

Reassessment of the country’s export-facing gas policy coincides with worsening domestic market backdrop

The Australian government has launched a comprehensive review of its key gas market safeguards, examining whether short-term crisis measures can be adapted for long-term energy stability. Originally scheduled as a mid-2025 review of the Gas Market Code, the process has since been expanded to include the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM) and the non-binding heads of agreement (HOA) with LNG exporters. Announced on 30 June and due to conclude by 15 August, the broadened scope of the Gas Market Review transforms what began as a narrow technical check-up into a higher-stakes reassessment of Australia’s export-facing gas policy. In public statements, Energy Minister Chris Bowen a