Relations between China and Australia may be at their lowest point for years on many fronts, but that hasn’t stopped the signing of a massive deal last night, which is the biggest single investment ever seen in Australia.

Australia has cemented its biggest ever trade deal, a $50 billion contract to supply liquefied natural gas to China, in what the Federal Government calls a win for everyone that will create jobs, help drag the economy back to health and still be good for the environment.

Resources minister Martin Ferguson has been gushing in praise for the deal, describing it as a win-win that would effectively be another “major economic stimulus” package.

In summary, the deal is being billed as providing thousands of new jobs, billions of dollars in tax revenue and a leg-up to switching to cleaner energy.  The project behind it has not yet received final green approval, but that is now seen as a formality.

The Opposition is keen to claim credit too.  Coalition frontbencher Joe Hockey welcomed the deal, but said the “platform” for it was laid back in the Howard years.

The above is from a news article published in August 2009. Here’s the latest update in the same field:

Woodside Signs 15-Year LNG Supply Deal with Chinese Gas Firm

In March 2025, Australian energy giant Woodside Energy locked in a major long-term deal with China Resources Gas International—its first in several years. The agreement will see Woodside supply approximately 600,000 tonnes of LNG annually for 15 years, with deliveries commencing in 2027.

It’s a significant moment, especially given the recent political ups and downs between Australia and China. This deal indicates that China’s energy demand is unlikely to slow down anytime soon.

Here’s the quick breakdown:

• What’s in the contract?
  Woodside will supply roughly 0.6 million tonnes of LNG per year from 2027 through to 2042.
• Why it matters:
  This is Woodside’s first long-term, standalone LNG sales agreement with a Chinese customer, and it’s also the first time China Resources Gas has committed to a 15-year LNG deal. Big change, big commitment.
• What’s happening in the market?
  Australia continues to sign long-term LNG agreements with Asian buyers, thanks to strong regional energy demand. At the same time, Chinese companies have reportedly been steering away from US gas due to tariff concerns, so Australia remains a steady and reliable option.

Source: Woodside signs long-term LNG supply deal with China Resources Gas.

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