The fossil fuel lobby is running a concerted campaign to exploit this global health crisis to further their agenda.
The demands for support from the fossil fuel lobby range from company tax cuts, to slashing Howard-Government era environmental legislation, support for import gas terminals and exploration projects, and cuts to mine workers’ pay and conditions.
Use the filter to see the different demands, who’s asking for them and their status.
Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA)
After the Queensland election, APPEA again pushed their “key reform priorities” of promoting the development of Queensland’s oil and gas resources and reducing regulatory burdens.
Government has made no comment
Minerals Council of Australia
In the lead up to the October 6 budget the mining lobby has made a pre-budget submission asking for expanded funding for exploration, reducing company tax, allowing Carbon Capture and Storage to be funded by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and cutting of environmental regulation.
Government has made no comment
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA)
In the lead up to the October 6 budget, the oil and gas lobby has included in their pre-budget submission major tax cuts (they don’t pay that much tax to begin with), and handouts for junior companies.
Government has Agreed
In April last year, the Morrison government said it was committed to ensuring the PRRT “better reflects Australia’s petroleum industry”, with Treasury commissioned to lead a review of gas transfer pricing arrangements. Source
Queensland Resources Council
Following the release of QRC’s Resource Industry Recovery Agenda, the Queensland Government announced a $5 million feasibility study for a Bowen Basin gas pipeline. Blue Energy also demanded this pipeline on 1 May 2020.
Government has Enacted
The government has announced this spending. Source
Mark McGowan, WA Premier
Special exemption from the recently announced tightening of the state’s domestic gas reservation policy for Beach Energy’s Waitsia operation, which is part owned by Kerry Stokes, owner of Channel 7. This means that Beach Energy can export their gas, while other companies must sell it to domestic, west coast users.
Government has Enacted
The government announced this, supposedly without telling Beach Energy. Source
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA)
APPEA is in frequent conversation with the government about decommissioning of unused oil wells, essentially demanding that taxpayers foot the bill instead of companies.
Government has made no comment
Perdaman
Perdaman is calling for the approval of the Narrabri Gas project that they want to supply gas to their proposed ammonium nitrate plant
Government has Agreed
Angus Taylor is supportive of the project Source
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA)
APPEA will brief the Federal Government on their “Blueprint for Reform” that demands: accessing government loan guarantees to gain added security for juniors to access debt financing, promoting short-term licence permits, expanding a mining exploration tax credit incentive to the petroleum industry and cutting environmental protection laws.
Government has made no comment
Queensland Resources Council (QRC)
The Queensland Resources Council are advocating for streamlined assessment and approval processes for resource projects, a 10 year royalty freeze and an industry development plan with a commitment to work with the sector on its long-term growth.
Government has made no comment
NSW Minerals Council
The Minerals Council released a report demanding the fast track approval of 32 resource projects in NSW.
Government has Agreed
In April the NSW government announced measures to fast-track projects through the planning system and has already fast-tracked a Glencore mine expansion during Covid. Source
Keith Pitt and the Australian Government
The publicly-funded loan fund, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility was due to be wound up in June next year has had its life extended for another 5 years, flagging gas projects as likely recipients of future loans.
Government has Agreed
The Government is the proponent. Source
Queensland Resources Council (QRC)
The QRC have been consistently advocating for the wind back of environmental protection laws in the EPBC, including appearing before the Natural Resources, Agricultural Industry Development and Environment Committee to make their case.
Government has Agreed
The Environment Minister has agreed to wind back environmental laws. Source
Keith Pitt, Minister for Resources
Minister Pitt was in Gladstone this week talking about new gas projects for manufacturing as an economic solution to the Covid crisis.
Government has Agreed
The government made these suggestions.
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA)
The oil and gas lobby are advocating for the wind back of environmental protection laws under the EPBC Act ahead of the upcoming review.
Government has Enacted
The Prime Minister and National Cabinat have agreed to a single touch approval system on 24 July Source
Queensland Resources Council (QRC)
Following statements from two federal Labor MPs, the QRC has demanded the fast tracked approval of the New Acland coal mine by the Queensland state government.
Government has made no comment
Queensland Government is awaiting the results of a High Court challenge from the local community before making a decision about the mine. Source
Joel Fitzgibbon & Shayne Neumann (ALP)
Federal Labor MPs broke ranks with their Queensland counterparts by publicy demanding the fast track of the New Acland coal mine before the high court makes its final ruling in a case led by the local community.
Government has made no comment
The Queensland government is awaiting the outcome of the high court case before making a decision about the mine.
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA)
The oil and gas sector is strongly backing the government’s “Technology Roadmap”, demanding a major expansion of gas projects, gas fired hydrogen, and deployment of risky carbon capture technology.
Government has Agreed
Angus Taylor has proposed most of these solutions in the Technology Roadmap, with funding expected in the next Federal Budget.
South Australian Government
Released significant new oil and gas acreage to six companies, covering 15,000 square kilometres.
Government has Enacted
Federal Government
Provide $125 million in funding to the Exploring for the Future program to enable an expansion of the mining sector.
Government has Enacted
Government announced this funding, which has been supported by the Minerals Council of Australia and the Queensland Resources Council. Source
Glencore
The NSW government has fast tracked consideration of an application by Glencore to extend its Bulga mine in 2035. This is part of the Planning Assessment Acceleration Program, which was intended to prioritise job creation during the economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Government has made no comment
The Government is expected to make a decision by July 17 under its fast-tracked process. Source
Victorian Government
Passed the Petroleum Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 which overturned a ban on onshore gas exploration and extraction in Victoria. APPEA welcomed the legislation.
Government has Enacted
Government passed legislation. Source
Queensland Resources Council
Freeze all resource royalty payments for the next 10 years, allowing coal companies to extract resources from the ground for free.
Government has made no comment
Queensland Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Dr Anthony Lynham
Expose another 1500 square kilometres of Queensland to gas exploration across the Surat and Bowen Basins.
Government has Enacted
The QLD Government has released the land for tender from June 18, 2020. Source
New Hope
Pressure the Queensland Government to “immediate approve” the New Acland Stage 3 coal mine, despite the coal mine currently being before the High Court.
Government has made no comment
Queensland Government
Cemented port and rail monopolies for at least another decade to transport coal from 50 mines to 5 ports to reduce costs for coal miners.
Government has Enacted
Government announced this decision. Source
Minerals Council of Australia
Demand that our government’s extend and expand support for early-stage exploration of new mineral provinces across regional Australia.
Government has made no comment
Christian Porter, Minister for Industrial Relations
Change industrial relations laws to allow mining companies to develop workplace contracts for the entire length of a coal or gas project. Unions are concerned this will reduce pay and conditions for workers over the life of a project.
Government has Agreed
Government is proposing this change. Source
Strike Energy
Strike Energy’s West Erregulla Gas Project has been granted Lead Agency Status by the WA Government. Nev Power is the Deputy Chair of Strike Energy. Lead Agency Status means the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation will support Strike Energy with “… coordination of approvals across a range of Government departments.”
Government has Enacted
The WA Government has granted Lead Agency Status to expedite the project. Source
Queensland Resources Council
Seeking support from the Queensland Government to expedite the assessment of new mining projects, and rewrite Federal and State Government assessment processes.
Government has made no comment
The Queensland Government has appointed Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane to the Industry Recovery Alliance. Source
Angus Taylor, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
Calls on state and territory governments to develop more gas projects to fuel a ‘gas-fired recovery’ from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Government has made no comment
State and territory governments have different policies settings regarding gas.
Senator Matt Canavan
Demands Australia withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Government has made no comment
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association
Call for Government’s to open up more land for gas exploration and development and remove bans on risky onshore gas extraction.
Government has made no comment
Queensland Resources Council
Demand the Queensland Government approve nine major coal mines including New Acland Stage 3, Eagle Downs, Winchester South Whitehaven, Alpha Coal Project and Olive Downs.
Government has made no comment
Minerals Council of Australia
Demand wide-ranging changes including a reduction in company tax to increasing mining profits, as well as “… expediting environmental assessments and approvals, reforming greenfields agreements and expanding incentives for exploration.”
Government has made no comment
Scott Morrison has stated he wants to establish a new regime for environment assessments to speed up approvals. Source
Minerals Council of Australia
Issued a 19-page document which outlines wide-ranging changes to Australia’s environmental laws, tax system and workplace relations to increase mining volumes and company profits. The document includes requesting changes to ARENA and the CEFC to allow funding for carbon capture and storage.
Government has made no comment
Government has not responded to the full suite of policy asks, however some items are supported such as company tax cuts, and re-writing environmental laws. Source
Australian Mines and Metals Association
Seeking to change the Fair Work Act to limit the benefits paid to casual workers.
Government has made no comment
Federal Government and lobby groups
Allow the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to fund unproven carbon capture and storage, which will remove funding from genuine clean energy projects.
Government has Agreed
The Government has accepted 21 of the 26 recommendations of the Grant King review into the Government’s climate policies, which includes supporting CCS. Source
Unknown members of the Covid-19 Commission
Advocate for Government investment in a gas pipeline connecting West and East Australia to facilitate the expansion of gas extraction and use.
Government has made no comment
NSW Government
The Independent Planning Commission will have 12 weeks to decide whether to approve controversial and complex developments and mining projects, including Whitehaven Coal Vickery mine extension and the Narrabri gas fields
Government has Agreed
The Independent Planning Commission will be forced to make these changes
Minerals Council of Australia
Call for policy changes for the mining industry to pay lower tax, receive faster project approvals, and operate with less rigid industrial relations laws.
Government has made no comment
Scott Morrison announced the Government wants to cut assessment times for major projects. Labor agreed. Source
Anglo American
Change new gas monitoring regulations designed to prevent underground explosions at mines.
Government has Denied
The Australian reports that Queensland Mines Minister Anthony Lynham rejected the push from Anglo American. Source
Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association
Advocating for deregulation of environmental law, and complaining about paying tax, blaming government for holding back investment.
Government has Agreed
The government has signalled support for regulatory reform. Source
Queensland Resources Council, APPEA, and the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies
Industry associations call for a fossil fuel industry support package which includes 12-month free rent on exploration licences, and opening up 7,000 square kilometres of land for gas and mining exploration.
Government has Enacted
Queensland Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham announced the $13.8 million support package, saying “A strong pipeline of exploration is critical to our future gas projects…” Source
Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association
Request the use of $300 million in public funds to invest in gas to hydrogen which would rely on untested carbon capture and storage or controversial market offsets.
Government has made no comment
The Federal Government has announced a $300 million Advancing Hydrogen Fund, the role for gas is unclear. Source
Minister for Resources, Keith Pitt
Australian government has opened public consultation on 49 potential areas for offshore oil and gas exploration.
Government has Enacted
This was announced by the Government. Source
AGL
Australia’s single biggest polluter, AGL, is calling on the Government to expedite the assessment of their controversial Crib Point LNG import plant in Victoria.
Government has made no comment
Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association
Scrap an increase in royalties paid to the Queensland Government from selling gas for export and domestic consumption. The royalties are expected to increase from 10% to 12.5%.
Government has made no comment
Santos and NSW Government
Change current rules regarding public hearings to allow for the assessment of the Pilliga coal seam gas project to continue through the Covid-19 crisis.
Government has Enacted
Blue Energy
Seeking Government funding and sanction for a “shovel-ready” gas pipeline from Moranbah to Gladstone to open up a new gas basin.
Government has made no comment
NSW Government
NSW Government has deferred payments for exploration licences and assessment lease applicants by up to six months
Government has Enacted
This was led by the NSW Government.
Angus Taylor, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
Redirect investment from renewable energy to carbon capture and storage through a new Technology Investment Roadmap. Despite hundreds of millions of dollars of investment over several decades, Carbon Capture and Storage has proven unfeasible.
Government has Agreed
Angus Taylor, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction is leading this push, the Technology Investment Roadmap will be released shortly.
Minerals Council of Australia
Slash federal environmental law which protects nature and threatened species so mining project assessments to be accelerated.
Government has Agreed
Scott Morrison and Federal Environment Minister Susan Ley has committed to ‘tackle green tape’ and introduce new legislation this year. Source
Minerals Council of Australia
Cut the company tax rate so the mining industry pays less to exploit and profit from Australia’s resources.
Government has Agreed
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stated in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Government is considering cutting company taxes. Source
Institute of Public Affairs
Gut environmental protections under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
Government has Agreed
Federal Environment Minister Susan Ley told The Guardian “Where there are opportunities to make sensible changes ahead of the final EPBC review report, I will be prepared to do so”. Scott Morrison agreed to cut assessment times for major projects. Source
Western Australian government
WA government provides financial support to mining corporations by reducing mine safety levy.
Government has Enacted
This was led by the WA Government. Source
Santos
Gas giant Santos is requesting the Australian Government establish an emergency stockpile of gas.
Government has made no comment
Minister for Energy Angus Taylor is quoted in the same news report as saying “Santos … is absolutely right that there’s a great opportunity for a gas recovery out of COVID-19.” Source
Angus Taylor, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
Amend the Fuel Quality Standards Act to reduce fuel standards, and purchase almost $100 million of oil from the US to ‘improve fuel security’.
Government has Enacted
Angus Taylor appears to have initiated this change. Source
Australian Industrial Energy, a joint venture backed by Twiggy Forrest.
Australian Industrial Energy has sought approval of a huge new gas import terminal at Port Kembla.
Government has Enacted
The NSW Government has approved the proposal. Source
Minerals Council of Australia
Maintain the diesel excise rebate which provides a huge fossil fuel subsidy worth $2 billion per year to the mining sector.
Government has Enacted
The Government has shown no sign of reconsidering this fossil fuel subsidy despite the revenue-raising potential.
Minister for Resources, Keith Pitt
Pitt announced a simplified application process to renew oil and gas exploration permits.
Government has Enacted
This was announced by Government. Source
South Australian government
South Australian has waived petroleum licence fees for oil and gas exploration.
Government has Enacted
South Australian Government announced these changes. Source
Keith Pitt, Minister for Resources
Exploit the pristine waters of the Great Australian Bight for oil, which would put the southern ocean whale nursery at risk. This is despite Equinor, Chevron and BP ruling out the project
Government has Agreed
Keith Pitt is leading this push after key corporate plays have ruled out the project due to high costs. Source
Angus Taylor, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
Agreement between Commonwealth and NSW Governments to prop up coal-fired electricity generators through the Underwriting New Generation Investment (UNGI).
Government has Agreed
Angus Taylor has led this push along with some in the mining and energy sectors. Source
Australian Energy Market Operator, Australian Energy Market Commission and Australian Energy Regulator
Delay the implementation of the “5 Minute Settlement” – a new regulation in the National Electricity Market that would have encouraged the uptake of clean technologies like renewables and batteries.
Government has Enacted
This has been put forward by the regulators responsible for its implementation. Source
Government has Agreed
Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated the Government will rely heavily on the advice of the Productivity Commission during the Covid-19 recovery.
Newcrest Mining
Change to the Corporations Act to restrict disclosure requirements for corporations, making it harder for investors and the community to hold companies to account.
Government has made no comment
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg declined to comment. Source
Australian Mines and Metals Association
Suspend workplace agreements to allow companies to cut workers hours, pay and conditions across the mining sector during and beyond the Covid-19 crisis.
Government has Denied
Attorney-General Christian Porter rejected the claims, telling The Australian “… not the time for ambit claims for systemic or ideological changes to the IR system.” Source
Woodside
Approval sought for Woodside’s Scarborough gas project in the north west of Western Australia.
Government has Enacted
NOPSEMA has approved the significant offshore gas project. Source
Woodside
14 week rosters for workers, including 12 weeks on the job and two weeks in isolation, a move that the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union said could increase suicide rates and mental health problems.
Government has made no comment
Queensland Resources Council
Suspend and extend tenure requirements, which would mean companies can hold onto exploration projects longer without conducting any work.
Government has made no comment
Peabody Coal
Approval sought to extract coal from three new longwalls, two of which will go beneath Greater Sydney’s drinking water reservoir.
Government has Enacted
The Berejiklian government has approved the extension of coal mining under one of Greater Sydney’s reservoirs, the first such approval in two decades. Source
Institute for Public Affairs
Scrap the Clean Energy Finance Corporation which would strip $10 billion of investment in clean energy.
Government has made no comment
Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association
Support for scrapping the “water trigger” in the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act that allows the Federal Environment Minister to review the impact on water of coal seam gas and coal mines.
Government has made no comment
Minerals Council and APPEA
List mining as an essential service, to allow operations and Fly-In, Fly-Out (FIFO) work to continue – even in high risk places like the Northern Territory that have been closed to other outsiders.
Government has Enacted
FIFO work has been continuing, despite concerns from local community members and even the former Resources Minister Matt Canavan, who wrote to the MCA asking them to stop FIFO work temporarily. The MCA refused. Source
Government has made no comment
Aston Coal
Change in the Maules Creek approval conditions, giving Aston Coal another year to find biodiversity offsets that they have failed to find for the last five years.
Government has Enacted
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment changed approval conditions. Source
Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association
Victoria has lifted the moratorium on onshore gas.
Government has Enacted
According to the ABC, the Andrews Government will introduce laws into State Parliament to allow drilling for gas from July 2021. Source
Institute for Public Affairs
Strip the community of the right to challenge mining projects that damage the environment in the courts, by repealing section 487 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
Government has Agreed
Federal Environment MInister Susan Ley told The Australian “the way the EPBC Act is being used in courts is serving nobody’s interests.” Source
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