The article says “gas”, not “natural gas”.

Is this "gas" not a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane?

Australia already has plenty of gas infrastructure including pipelines so the situation might be similar as to Germany: First, use natural gas as the one fossil fuel that you’re using precisely because gas plants regulate fast and natural gas can be replaced by synthesised gas, then, once you have enough renewable capacity, actually do the switch. And boy oh boy has Australia potential for renewable generation, they’ll also want to produce tons of hydrogen anyway to smelt (and stop being a 3rd-world style economy that’s exporting raw ore).

Sounds like an excuse to perpetuate the fossil fuel racket.