Successive federal governments have granted environmental approval for major projects owned by companies that made a total of $54.8 million in political donations in the 24 years to 2022, a new Lock the Gate Alliance analysis reveals. The report is available here.
The report uses publicly available AEC and EPBC data to calculate the total donations figure of companies that received environmental approvals between 1998/99 and 2021/2022.
The findings raise serious questions over the integrity of Australia’s environment laws and come as the Albanese Government backtracks on a promised overhaul of the EPBC Act.
Fossil fuel companies were among those who made significant donations and received project approvals.
- Woodside and Santos donated nearly $3 million each to Labor and the Coalition during the 24 year period.
- Santos projects received eight federal environmental approvals and Woodside projects received nine federal environmental approvals during this time.
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Coal companies including Adani, Whitehaven, and Glencore collectively donated $3.1 million dollars over the 24 year period and received 24 project approvals under the EPBC Act.
- Lobby groups representing the interests of mining companies such as the Minerals Council of Australia and NSW Minerals Council collectively donated more than $1 million to the two major parties.
The release of the analysis follows a senate inquiry into the Albanese Government’s proposed national environment protection agency, which is due to report on September 9.
Han Aulby, analysis author and Lock the Gate Advocacy Coordinator said the Albanese Government's proposed EPA was a band-aid solution that would not fix deeper structural problems with Australia’s environment laws.
“The Government's proposed EPA is already too weak to be effective, and now the Prime Minister has said he is going to weaken it further. We need strict controls to stop damaging projects, and integrity reforms that limit political donations," they said.
“As our analysis shows, proponents are donating millions while their projects are being assessed. This creates a public perception that assessments are not independent and undermines Australian democracy,” Mx Aulby said.
"It’s clear that there are major, systemic problems with the way our national environment laws work, and we need root and branch reform. Federal Labor committed to this, but has disappointingly now delayed this overhaul indefinitely.”
Professor Joo Cheong Tham, University of Melbourne Law School and Director of the Centre for Public Integrity said, “The Samuel Review found a lack of public trust in the EPBC. Looking at these donations, it’s easy to see why. The Federal Government urgently needs to reform the EPBC Act to rebuild trust and ensure decisions are free from corporate influence.
“We need caps on political donations and campaign spending, and a ban on donating altogether while projects are being assessed,” said Professor Tham.
Lock the Gate Alliance is not suggesting the companies or governments have engaged in any illegal activity, or that quid pro quo treatment occurred.
ENDS