Fossil gas is a public health issue and Australia must act

To Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler,

We write to urge the Australian Government to acknowledge fossil gas as a significant and preventable public health risk and to make health protection central to Australia’s transition away from fossil fuels.

Fossil gas creates health risks throughout its lifecycle, from extraction and processing, through its distribution and use in our homes, workplaces and businesses, to the climate impacts caused by methane emissions and combustion.

In the home and workplace, fossil gas is associated with respiratory illness, including the development and exacerbation of asthma. Gas extraction and processing affects air and water quality and is associated with an increased risk of cardiac and respiratory disease, childhood leukaemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Fossil gas is accelerating the climate crisis and its immense threats to public health. It contributes to more severe heatwaves, bushfires, droughts and storms that worsen air quality, increase heat-related mortality, and overwhelm emergency departments, while threatening food and water security, changing patterns of infectious disease and placing increasing pressure on Australia's health system.

It is indefensible that Australia continues to approve new gas developments and invest in infrastructure that risks locking communities into avoidable health harms, higher long-term costs and escalating climate risks. Australia has successfully acted to reduce exposure to other major public health hazards when evidence demonstrated unacceptable risks. Fossil gas should be no different. 

We urge you to exercise your responsibility to protect the health of the Australian people by

• Providing targeted support to the community to replace gas appliances and disconnect from the gas network
• Establish a clear timeline for phasing out fossil gas and rule out approving new gas projects
• Make the gas industry bear the costs of the health and environmental harms of their product.

Yours sincerely,