Hunt calls energy companies to meeting

Federal Industry Minister Greg Hunt has called a crisis meeting with the heads of Australia's major energy companies.

Chief executives from producers Santos, Esso, Shell and Origin are expected to attend the meeting in Melbourne on Monday.

The meeting, ahead of Friday's COAG leaders meeting, will be used to increase pressure on the states to ease restrictions on gas exploration, The Australian reports.

Resources Minister Matt Canavan, who will also be at the talks, says the government expects the gas shortage to worsen over the next five years.

He criticised some state governments for putting in a ban on gas exploration and development.

"We'll be exploring ... with some of those gas industry executives what we can do to unlock those resources," he told ABC radio.