The fossil fuel industry funnelled plenty of funds into both sides of politics over the last financial year, with the AEC’s release of donor information demonstrating its continued closeness to public policy makers. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest spenders.
Woodside
Woodside has taken out the top gong for political donations from the fossil fuel sector. The biggest recipient was the Labor Party’s WA branch, cashing in $87,460 from the oil and gas giant. The remaining money includes $55,000 to the federal branches of the Liberal and Labor parties, and a few smaller donations to the WA Liberal Party and the Nationals.
Woodside usually leads the pack when it comes to political donations. Over the past two decades, it has funnelled about $2 million into the hands of political parties.
Spending is down from 2019-20, however, with Woodside recording donations of $335,415 in that financial year. Woodside agreed on terms to a $41 billion merger with BHP’s petroleum business in November last year.
As Bernard Keane wrote in Crikey, this deal would “make Woodside the undisputed king of fossil fuel companies in Australia and further bolster its already remarkable capacity to influence public policy”. In 2020, it received an $8.8 million federal grant to advise on how best to clean up its own abandoned oil rig in the Timor Sea.
Mineral Resources Limited
The mining services company donated a hefty $222,400, most ($92,400) going to the WA branch of the Labor Party. The WA Liberals also received a healthy chunk of change, $80,000, and the WA Nats took the remaining $50k. The WA-based mining services company runs two iron ore hubs and two hard rock lithium mine sites across the state. A rapidly expanding business, MinRes is looking to build two new berths at Port Hedland port in a bid to double its iron ore exports to almost 40 million tonnes. Despite not yet receiving the WA government’s approval, MinRes has injected $105 million into the mine site, transport corridor and port area.
The Minerals Council
The Minerals Council of Australia, which represents coalminers Glencore, New Hope, BHP and Rio Tinto, was again a significant contributor. It doled out $193,943 to the major political parties, an increase on its $145,000 donation from the previous financial year. Its contributions varied and included amounts to all major parties federally, and various state and territory branches of the Liberal Party.
Trevor St Baker
Another big spender from the fossil fuel industry was businessman Trevor St Baker, who has various personal interests in power and fuel. He donated to both major parties federally, as well as state divisions in NSW and Queensland, for a grand sum of $165,202. St Baker has also made significant financial gains from the boom in electric vehicles, as he manages to straddle both sides of the climate transition.
Low Emissions Technology Australia (fka Coal21)
LET Australia donated $111,500 across all the major parties. The emissions reduction fund for much of Australia’s coal industry was previously known as Coal21, but rebranded in 2020. Its stated aim is to work towards reducing emissions generated by mining fossil fuels. But key member BHP wasn’t happy when it funded ads by the Minerals Council including the widely mocked “amazing little black rock” TV spot in 2015. Amid attempts by the mining sector to raise its green credentials, the group has purportedly refocused on research and development of low emissions technology, but continues to hold political influence.
