Greasing the Wheels

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Table of Contents Testimonials ........................................................................................................................i Executive Summary .......................................................................................................... 1 Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. 5 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 6 Political Donations and Access ......................................................................................... 7 BEACH ENERGY LTD (Beach Energy) ............................................................................. 8 SIBELCO Australia and New Zealand (Sibelco) ........................................................... 13 KARREMAN QUARRIES (Karreman) ............................................................................ 17 NEW HOPE Corporation (New Hope) ......................................................................... 18 ADANI MINING PTY LTD (Adani)................................................................................. 24 LINC ENERGY LTD AND CARBON ENERGY LTD............................................................ 30 Revolving Door ............................................................................................................... 36 Gift and Benefits ............................................................................................................. 41 Discussion ....................................................................................................................... 43 Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 50 Greasing the Wheels 5
Introduction This report reviews the scope of mining industry influence on successive Queensland Governments, and provides a systematic assessment of the scale and nature of political donations and contributions, industry access and lobbying, the provision of gifts and benefits and the rotation of employees between the mining industry and the public sector. A number of case studies are provided which highlight the concerns arising in the broader community as to whether decision-making on mining and unconventional gas projects are being unduly influenced by the industry. These case studies focus on political donations and access, with outlines of the impacts of the provision of gifts and benefits and the rotation of employees between the mining industry and the public sector given at the end of the report. The report suggests that there are systemic weaknesses in governance impacting decision making in relation to the mining industry. The ultimate outcome of mining and gas projects approved under these circumstances includes negative impacts on the economy, communities and harm to the environment. The mining projects highlighted in the case studies below will lead to various poor outcomes for Queenslanders including drawdown in important groundwater aquifers, clearing of strategic cropping land, air pollution with fine particle pollution and negative impacts on other industries such as agriculture and tourism. It can also lead perverse economic outcomes and a waste of taxpayer’s money. Over the six years to 2014 around $9 billion of Queensland taxpayer’s money was spent on subsidies to the mining industry. 8 8 The Australia Institute, June 2014, ‘Mining the Age of Entitlement’, http://www.tai.org.au/sites/defualt/files/Mining%20the%20age%20of%20entitlement.pdf Greasing the Wheels 6
Page 1 and 2: Greasing the Wheels The systemic we
Page 3 and 4: What the Experts Say “There is a
Page 5 and 6: “In Greasing the Wheels, the ease
Page 7 and 8: Although this report focuses on con
Page 9: ministerial meetings and business i
Page 13 and 14: It could reasonably be assumed by t
Page 15 and 16: Changes to legal and/or policy envi
Page 17 and 18: Environmental Areas in the Regional
Page 19 and 20: Sibelco Sibelco Sibelco Sibelco Sib
Page 23 and 24: site, where it is extracted by Karr
Page 25 and 26: It is also relevant to note that th
Page 27 and 28: This commitment was repeated in Par
Page 29 and 30: ADANI MINING PTY LTD (ADANI) Donati
Page 33 and 34: during the year ended March 31, 201
Page 35 and 36: LINC ENERGY LTD AND CARBON ENERGY L
Page 37 and 38: Andrew Powell, Minister for Environ
Page 39 and 40: industry 102 . The ISP was charged
Page 41 and 42: Revolving Door Another community co
Page 43 and 44: Andrew Brier Infrastructure and Pla
Page 45 and 46: Ben Myers April 2011-March 2012: Di
Page 47 and 48: As a result of the acceptance of th
Page 49 and 50: Political donations and contributio
Page 51 and 52: Federal Liberal Party to the Queens
Page 53 and 54: Furthermore, although the ALP commi
Page 55 and 56: in Queensland. A separate but relat

Greasing the Wheels

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