Native title holders and green groups have come out swinging against the Albanese government’s new future gas strategy, released this morning, which says new gas fields are needed to fill looming shortfalls and underpin the move to renewables.

The strategy, developed by Resources Minister Madeleine King, said new projects were essential to the nation – such as Scarborough, being developed by Woodside off the Western Australian coast, and Narrabri, being developed by Santos in northern NSW and the Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory, which is currently under exploration.

Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation, which represents native title holders from the Beetaloo Basin, said gas development would damage their country.

“We don’t need new gas which involves drilling into our land in the Northern Territory and damaging our country, culture and water,” said chair of Nurrdalinji, Djingili Elder Samuel Sandy.

The Australian Conservation Foundation labelled the strategy a climate disaster.

“As climate scientists warn the planet is headed for at least 2.5C of heating, it beggars belief Australia’s government would release a plan to detonate the Scarborough, Browse, Barossa and Beetaloo carbon bombs,” said ACF Gavan McFadzean.