The Government’s Covid Commission is stacked with fossil fuel company executives and gas “kingmakers” whose vision for Australia is framed by pipelines and fracking wells.
Neville Power
Commission Role: Chairman
Strong connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
- Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair of Strike Energy, a gas exploration and production company which is fracking in South Australia and seeking to exploit gas reserves in WA.
Support for the fossil fuel industry:
The Australian Financial Review reports that Mr Power has advocated for a gas pipeline linking the West and East coasts to facilitate an expansion of onshore gas in WA.
According to the Change of Director’s Notice lodged with the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), Mr Power held 12,612,885 shares, plus options on another 6 million, in Strike Energy as of April 1st, 2020. These 12,612,885 shares have a market value of $1,639,675 as at May 4th, 2020.
At the time of his departure from Fortescue Metals Group in February 2018, where Mr Power had served as CEO, he directly held over 1.5 million shares in the company, had an interest in another 1.3 million and an additional 3.5 million in unvested performance rights. These 1.5 million shares have a market value of $16.2 million as at May 4th, 2020.
Relevant Background:
- CEO of Fortescue Metals Group (2011 – 2018)
- Chief Executive of Australian Operations at Thiess (2007 – 2011)
- Chief Executive of Smorgon Steel Group (1996 – 2007)
- Oaky Creek Coal Joint Venture (1994)
- Carpentaria Gold Pty Ltd (1994)
- Mount Isa Mines Ltd (1974 – 1994)
- Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair of Strike Energy, a gas exploration and production company which is fracking in South Australia and seeking to exploit gas reserves in WA.
“We need competitive energy prices, particularly gas, to attract large-scale manufacturing like fertiliser and petrochemicals. There is absolutely no reason why Australia can’t be very competitive with those.”
Sydney Morning Herald, 22 April, 2020
”…we have abundant energy, particularly in the form of gas that we can deploy …”
The Australian, 20 April, 2020
“A west-east pipeline or even an east-west pipeline would be a great opportunity for Australia.”
Energy News Bulletin, 7 May 2020
Andrew Liveris
Commission Role: Special Advisor
Strong connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Positions:
- Deputy Chairman of Worley Parsons (global chemicals and engineering company)
- Independent non-executive Director of Saudi Aramco (an oil and gas company)
- Special Advisor to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
- Appointed to Co-Chair the Northern Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission.
Support for the fossil fuel industry:
Mr Liveris has advocated for pipelines connecting the east to west, and north to south coasts to increase the amount of gas used and exported.
Mr Liveris is reported in The Australian to have advised the Northern Territory on the development of its gas industry and noted the potential of the Beetaloo Basin, 500km southeast of Darwin.
The Australian reports that Mr Liveris has previously been an advocate of Australia developing a domestic reservation policy for gas to guarantee gas consumption in Australia, though he no longer supports this policy.
As of June 2019, Mr Liveris held 6,870 shares in Worley Parsons, which have a value of $54,204 as at May 4th, 2020.
An an independent non-executive director of Saudi Aramco, Mr Liveris receives a fixed fee of $1,125,000 Saudi Riyal which is equivalent to $466,086 AUD as at May 4th, 2020.
According to the Australian Electoral Commission, the Dow Chemical Company gave $55,000 to the Liberal Party of Australia in 2018-19 and a total of $165,000 between 2013 and 2018.
Relevant Background:
- Chair of American Manufacturing Council established by President Trump (December 2016 – August 2017).
- Various roles at DowDuPont including Director and Executive Chairman of DowDuPont (September 2017 – Jul 2018)
- Various roles at the Dow Chemical Company including Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer (Nov 2004 – July 2018)
“There is a lot more gas onshore in Australia which could be produced. There is a lot of gas sitting under the ground in Australia onshore…”
The Australian, 23 May, 2019
“… gas can be our silver bullet. We have an abundance of gas. We can have gas storage and generation and transmission. We could put together a plan within minutes and execute it in a few months and get more gas supply in a year.”
The Australian, 25 March, 2020
If you had a couple of (gas) pipelines east to west and north to south, you would start tapping all of it … I would put a lot of effort into putting in the right pipeline infrastructure.”
The Australian, 23 May 2019
Catherine Tanna
Commission Role: Commissioner
Strong connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Positions:
- Managing Director of EnergyAustralia Holdings Limited, China Light and Power’s (CLP) 100 per cent owned electricity and gas business in Australia. (2014 – current)
- Board Member of the Business Council of Australia
- Board Member of the Reserve Bank of Australia (2011 – current)
Support for the fossil fuel industry:
In 2019, Ms Tanna announced that EnergyAustralia will be investing $80 million to expand the Mt Piper coal-fired power station near Lithgow in NSW, to “…help make sure the plant is around for another quarter century.
EnergyAustralia is Australia’s second largest carbon emitter. CLP Group, Energy Australia’s parent company, has a 20% stake in Santos’ Narrabri gas project.
The Financial Review reported that Ms Tanna has opposed the Victorian Government’s draft emissions reduction targets as the targets would result in the closure of the Yallourn coal-fired power station owned by Energy Australia.
As the managing director of Queensland Gas Company, Ms Tanna oversaw the development of the $US20.4 billion Queensland Curtis liquefied natural gas project in Gladstone.
InfluenceMap identifies the Business Council of Australia as one of the world’s most effective opponents of action on climate change, in their September 2019 report.
Relevant Background:
- Former Chair of BG Australia
- Former managing director of Queensland Gas Company (a wholly owned Australian subsidiary of BG Group) (2009 – 2012)
- Former Executive Vice President of Shell Gas & PowerFormer BHP Petroleum employee
“We’re excited by the work we’re doing on our pumped hydro, energy recovery and new gas-fired projects … these are examples of the generation assets that can underpin the energy system as big coal plants retire.”
Sydney Morning Herald, 24 February, 2020
James Fazzino
Commission Role: Member of Manufacturing Working Group
Strong connection to the fossil fuel industry
“…the long-term solution is more gas, more suppliers.”
The Australian, 6 October, 2017
Current Position:
- Chair of Manufacturing Australia (October 2017 – current)
- Non-Independent Director of APA, an energy infrastructure company which owns and operates the largest interconnected gas transmission network across Australia. (February 2019 – current)
- Member of the Expert Advisory Panel of the Australian Energy Market Operator.
Support for the fossil fuel industry:
Mr Fazzino has been described as “… the man who underpinned the development of south-east Queensland’s gas industry” and a gas industry “kingmaker.”
Under Mr Fazzino’s leadership, Incitec Pivot developed Gibson Island off Brisbane to use gas to produce ammonia for explosives and fertiliser. At the time of Mr Fazzino’s departure from Incitec Pivot, the company was the “…world’s second-largest explosives company, Australia’s largest fertiliser company.”
In 2017 the Financial Review report Mr Fazzino as advocating for new gas supplies to be opened up, and pointed to Queensland as getting it right.
APA Group, of which Mr Fazzino is a Non-Independent Director owns and operates gas transportation and energy infrastructure. APA operates gas pipelines, processing facilities, and gas fired power stations. The company has interests in approximately 15,000 kilometers of gas transmission pipelines.
APA Group is seeking to build a Western Slopes Pipeline connecting Santos’ controversial Narrabri gas project to the Moomba Sydney Pipeline, and a seperate pipeline connecting the Moomba Sydney Pipeline to Port Kembla. The Narrabri project is currently being assessed by the NSW Government.
Mr Fazzino holds 31,751 shares in APA Group, which have a market value of $348,625 as at May 4th, 2020.
According to the Australian Electoral Commission, APA Group, of which Mr Fazzino is a Non-Independent Director, gave $17,500 to the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in 2018-19, and an additional of $24,312 to the Australian Labor Party National and Queensland branches between 2012 and 2018.
According to the Australian Electoral Commission, Manufacturing Australia gave $11,000 to the ALP in 2018-19, and an additional $29,500 between 2014 – 2018.
The membership of Manufacturing Australia, of which Mr Fazzino is Chair, consists of Tomago Aluminium Company, which has long advocated for the extension of the life of the Liddell coal-fired power station in the Hunter Valley, and Incitec Pivot, one of Australia’s largest consumers of gas and Mr Fazzino’s previous employer. Other high energy using member companies include BlueScope Steel, Cement Australia and Capral. In 2018-19 BlueScope Steel gave $55,000 to both the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia.
Relevant Background:
- CEO and Managing Director of Incitec Pivot Limited, one of Australia’s largest gas users which turns gas into explosives and fertilisers. (June 1991 – Nov 2017)
“We can have a wonderful LNG industry, we can have a developing manufacturing industry off the back of cheap gas, and we can actually keep some of that gas in country to produce clean electricity.”
The Australian, 6 October 2017
Ben Eade
Commission Role: Member of Manufacturing Working Group
Strong connection to the fossil fuel industry
“By unlocking new gas tenements, specifically for domestic customers, the Queensland government has provided a template for how gas should be developed in eastern Australia.”
The Australian, 24 June, 2019
Current Position:
- Executive Director of Manufacturing Australia (2013 – current)
Support for the fossil fuel industry:
In 2018, under Mr Eade’s leadership, Manufacturing Australia was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald to be working behind the scenes to line up large electricity users to support the sale and possible life extension of the Liddell coal-fired power station, slated for closure in 2021.
According to the Australian Electoral Commission, Manufacturing Australia gave $11,000 to the ALP in 2018-19, and an additional $29,500 between 2014 – 2018. In 2018-19 BlueScope Steel, a member of Manufacturing Australia, gave $55,000 to both the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia.
Relevant Background:
- The membership of Manufacturing Australia, of which Mr Eade is Executive Director, consists of Tomago Aluminium Company, which has long advocated for the extension of the life of the Liddell coal-fired power station in the Hunter Valley, and Incitec Pivot, one of Australia’s largest consumers of gas. Other high energy using member companies include BlueScope Steel, Cement Australia and Capral.
Innes Willox
Commission Role: Member of Manufacturing Working Group
Mixed connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group (May 2012 – current)
Relevant Background:
- On May 5th 2020, the Guardian reported Innes Willox as saying “Covid-19 and climate are bigger than any economic challenge we’ve faced in the last century.” and “There’s a lot that we can do to rebuild stronger and cleaner”.
- Previously, Mr Willox is reported saying a well-regulated gas supply was an important part of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
- Mr Willox, as head of the Australian Industry Group, sided with the Minerals Council of Australia and the Australian Industry Group in welcoming the repeal of the price on carbon, in 2014.
- InfluenceMap identifies the Australian Industry Group as one of the world’s most effective opponents of action on climate change, in their September 2019 report.
RESIGNED: Greg Combet AM
Commission Role: Member of Manufacturing Working Group
Minor connection to the fossil fuel industry
Greg Combet resigned his position advising the Covid-19 Commission in June 2020.
Current Positions:
- Chairman of Industry Super Australia
- Chair of IFM Investors
Support for the fossil fuel industry:
Mr Combet chaired the Independent Expert Panel established by the Victorian Government to advise of interim emissions reduction targets for 2025 and 2030. The Age reports that “Mr Combet’s expert panel’s longer term advice is even more ambitious, calling for cuts of up to 60 per cent by 2030, more than twice the target being pursued by the federal government”.
Mr Combet has previously advocated for investment in carbon capture and storage, which despite decades of research has continued to prove ineffective.
Relevant Background:
- Chair of Independent Expert Panel established by the Victorian Government to advise of interim emissions reduction targets for 2025 and 2030 (October 2017 – June 2019)
- Consultant to AGL and Santos (2015)
- Minister for Climate change, Industry and Innovation in the Gillard government (2010 – June 2013)Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (1999 – 2007).
“[It makes sense] to dramatically increase domestic gas production, to ensure that the supply of gas keeps prices down and encourages investment in gas-fired power generation rather than coal.”
Australian Financial Review, 2 September, 2014
“I have always been a fossil fuels man.”
Australian Financial Review, 2 September, 2014
Paul Howes
Commission Role: Commissioner from 27 July 2020
Minor connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Positions:
- National Managing Partner of KPMG Enterprise (July 2019 – current)
Support for the fossil fuel industry:
At the Australian Workers’ Union, Mr Howes was vocal in his support for the coal seam gas industry and opposing state-based moratoriums on coal seam gas.
He advocated for an expansion of the industry and for a domestic gas reserve.
Relevant Background:
- National Secretary, the Australian Workers’ Union (Nov 2007 – July 2014)
- Vice President, Australian Council of Trade Unions (Nov 2007 – June 2014)
“Coal seam gas might not be popular. But if we want to make NSW great again, we must use the resources that are here. Even if they are behind a locked gate.”
The Daily Telegraph, 1 January 2012
“The interests of all Australians who benefit from exploitation of subsurface resources like gas trumps the interests of a small number who hold a freehold interest on the top layer.”
Farmonline National, 8 May 2013
Jane Halton AO
Commission Role: Commissioner
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
- Board of ANZ Bank
- Chair of Vault Systems
- Council Member for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute
- Non-Executive Director of Crown Resorts (a casino and entertainment company)
Relevant Background:
- Secretary of the Department of Finance (2014 – Oct 2016)
- Secretary of the Department of Health (Jan 2002 – 2014)
- Deputy Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Halton was convener of the People Smuggling Taskforce in the Children Overboard Affair.
Paul Little AO
Commission Role: Commissioner
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
- Founder and Chair of Little Group
Relevant Background:
- Former Managing Director of Toll Holdings (until Jan 2012)
- Recognised by Forbes Magazine as the 40th richest person in Australia in 2019
Mike Hirst
Commission Role: Commissioner from 27 July 2020
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
- Board member, private health insurance company GMHBA (July 2018 – current)
- Deputy Chairman, Racing Victoria (October 2016 – current)
- Board member, Amcil Ltd (January 2019 – current)
Relevant Background:
- Managing Director of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (July 2009 – March 2018)
- Deputy chairman, Australian Banking Association (December 2013 – June 2018)
Samantha Hogg
Commission Role: Commissioner from 27 July 2020
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
- Chairman Tasmanian Irrigation (September 2016 – current)
- Director, Hydro Tasmania (August 2015 – current)
- Non-executive Director Infrastructure Australia (April 2019 – current)
- Non-executive Director, MaxiTRANS (May 2016 – current)
Relevant Background:
- Board member, Australian Renewable Energy Agency (April 2018 – July 2020)
- Chief Financial Officer, Transurban (May 2012 – July 2014)
- Executive, Western Mining Corporation (pre-2005)
Su McCluskey
Commission Role: Commissioner from 27 July 2020
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
- Chair, Energy Renaissance
- Director, Australian Unity
- Director, Foundation for Young Australians
- Director, Australiasian Pork Research Institute
- Director, NSW Rice Marketing Board
Relevant Background:
- Review Panel for the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission Legislation
- CEO Regional Australia Institute (2012 – 2015)
- Director Tax and Trade Policy, Business Council of Australia
- Executive Director, Office of Best Practice Regulation (June 2007 – June 2010)
Bao Hoang
Commission Role: Commissioner from 27 July 2020
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
- Co-founder and CEO, Roll’d Australia (May 2012 – current)
Relevant Background:
- Co-founder, Revita – Health for Seniors (2010 – 2017)
Laura Berry
Commission Role: Commissioner from 27 July 2020
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
- CEO, Supply Nation (May 2015 – current)
Relevant Background:
- Director, Engineering Aid Australia (July 2009 – November 2013)
- Manager Indigenous Affairs and Community investment, Leighton Holdings (July 2007 – February 2011)
- Office of the Leader of the Opposition, NSW (June 2006 – June 2007)
- Office of the Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Hill (Jan 2002 – April 2006)
David Thodey AO
Commission Role: Deputy Chair
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Support for the fossil fuel industry:
- Chair of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) (Nov 2015 – current)
- Chair of Tyro Payments (Oct 2018 – current)
- Chair of Xero (July 2019 – current)
Relevant Background:
- Chief Executive Officer of Telstra (May 2009 – April 2015)
Philip Gaetjens
Commission Role: Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
- Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Sept 2019 – current)
Relevant Background:
- Secretary to the Treasury between 1 August 2018 and 30 August 2019
- Chief of Staff for then Treasurer, the Hon Scott Morrison MP (Oct 2015 – June 2018)
- Secretary of NSW Treasury (Aug 2011 – July 2015)
Mike Pezzullo
Commission Role: Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position
- Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs (Oct 2014 – current)
Relevant Background:
- Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service from September 2012
- Deputy Chief of Staff to the then Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Kim Beazley MP (1997 – Dec 2001)
Peter Harris AO
Commission Role: Chief Executive Officer
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
- Director of Infrastructure Australia – (March 2019 – current)
Relevant Background:
- Chairman of the Productivity Commission (March 2013 – Sept 18), during which time the Commission developed the “Shifting the Dial” report.
- Secretary of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy in (Aug 2009 – 2012)
Jens Goennemann
Commission Role: Member of Manufacturing Working Group
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
- Managing Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (Feb 2016 – current)
Relevant Background:
- Managing Director of the Airbus Group Australia Pacific (Jan 2008 – Dec 2015)
Paul Bastian
Commission Role: Member of Manufacturing Working Group
No identified connection to the fossil fuel industry
Current Position:
- Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) (March 2012 – current)
Relevant Background:
- National President of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (Feb 2010 – March 2012)
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