Some 35 per cent of Australians believe their finances will get worse, says APPEA Finances cooking with gas? Not for many Australians - they're doing it tough. Picture: Andy Baker. JUST over 80 per cent of Australians believe their financial situation will not improve in the next year, according to a study of economic expectations. The natural gas industry will use the pessimism of many Australians to fight opponents to $150 billion in new projects - from the Greens to the Lock the Gates activists. An industry campaign starting today argues it could provide 150,000 new jobs and exports worth $40 billion a year if more projects went ahead. Some 35 per cent of Australians believe their finances will get worse, according to the survey conducted by Cosby Textor for the Australian Petroleum Products Export Association (APPEA), the peak body for the oil and gas industry. A further 46 per cent believed they will stay the same. Just 16 per cent believed their financial situation would improve. APPEA's director of external affairs Michael Bradley said the next Parliament should free up blocked investment "before we lose the next wave of mega-projects to North America or East Africa." "More than $150 billion worth of energy resource projects stalled in Australia last year and our country cannot afford to lose the next $150 billion worth of gas projects currently being assessed by potential investors," said Mr Bradley. He told news.com.au those fighting completion of these projects included MPs from all parties but particularly the Greens, and grass-roots activists opposing coal seam gas developments in Queensland and NSW. One activist group, the Lock the Gates Alliance, says its mission is to "protect Australia's natural, environmental, cultural and agricultural resources from inappropriate mining." Mr Bradley said the industry campaign would highlight what Australia could forego should the groups opposing it succeed. Australia has enormous potential supplies of natural gas, but if we don't maintain our competitive advantage we will not see those resources developed, and Australia will lose jobs, cheaper energy, cleaner energy, and future tax revenues. The Australian economy can't afford the risks posed by having public policy influenced by anti-gas misinformation. Activities designed to disrupt and delay future resource projects should be of concern to all who value jobs, investment, and new economic opportunity.