The Gas Industry Alliance has been established as a joint initiative between the key gas industry associations, LPG Australia, the Energy Networks Association, the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association of Australia; and the National Association of Food Equipment Suppliers, to create awareness of the role the gas industry plays within Australia.

The goal is to promote the increase use of gas appliances and the benefits gas delivers to the environment for the residential and commercial markets within Australia. Every Australian has access to gas whether it is natural gas or LPG.

The gas industry has undergone a number of changes over the past decade that has lead to a reduced focus and diminished support of the industry as a whole. During this time the percentage of gas usage in the Australian energy market has declined against electricity. Gas heater sales have been declining. And this has been occurring within the environment of increasing greenhouse gas concerns. Our pie is shrinking, but it needs to grow if we are to deliver the benefits.

The Gas Industry Alliance is bringing together the major industry groups to reinvigorate gas as a desirable and sustainable fuel source. The alliance provides a vehicle for the downstream gas industry to meet, discuss issues of common concern, and act as a single united body as the need arises, specifically with respect to Government policy.

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The Gas Industry Alliance has five key objectives:

1. Promote the benefits of gas as a fuel of choice in terms of environment, economics, function and lifestyle. 2. Develop the appliance market through the development and introduction of new products into the Australian market. One such product is Gas Heat Pump, which addresses the environment and economic issues of electric based air conditioning while maintaining the lifestyle benefits. 3. Advocate as the united and credible voice of the gas industry for nationally consistent policies that improve gas usage. 4. Advise groups such as the Australian Gas Industry Trust and government in relevant funding proposals and opportunities 5. Inform consumer bodies, industry and government as to the benefits of gas, gas appliances and the gas industry within Australia.

To assist in growing the gas industry within Australia, a number of working groups have been established including:

- National Consistency for Appliance Sales and Installation Regulation. - Gas Market Information workgroup to develop industry market data, including total gas volumes, customer numbers and appliance sales. This will provide the platform for achieving the five key objectives with credibility and measure the growth of the gas industry pie through actions undertaken. - Government Advocacy on Gas Policy and Issues, to raise the profile of gas within government in addressing tomorrow’s issues today.

These five key objectives and working groups point back to the goal – to grow the gas industry within Australia. The usage of gas benefits society as a whole in terms of the environment, economics and lifestyle. And it will also benefit our industry in growing the size of the pie.