The Australian Greens have taken aim at Labor’s decision to vote with the Liberals today in the Senate to spend public money opening up a $50 million gas fund
The Beetaloo plan forms part of the government’s proposed “gas-led recovery” to drive economic growth amid the ongoing pandemic.
The $50 million Beetaloo Co-operative Drilling Program has been championed by Nev Power, the former Fortescue executive, and Andrew Liveris, the former Dow Chemicals executive.
But the Greens say the fund is set to lead to a climate disaster – just as the world turns its focus on climate control following a report by the IPCC
What the Greens wanted:
The Greens had been hopeful that Labor would vote alongside them and the crossbench which would have seen the fund abolished, given the numbers in the Senate.
Labor is responsible for the continued existence of the $50 million Beetaloo Co-operative Drilling Program to open up new gas projects.
Reports suggest the Greens have vowed to revisit the issue when Parliament meets again in October, and off the back of the Labor party writing to the Auditor-General to investigate the fund they support, the Australian Greens have also written to the ANAO asking for this work to be completed before the next and final vote.
The $50 million grants program which was announced in December 2020, aims to expedite gas exploration in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young is one of many left disappointed with the vote:
Senate committee wants Beetaloo gas grants investigated as Labor refers matter to auditor general:
A Senate Inquiry earlier today found that Empire Energy’s “close financial and personal relationships” with the Liberal party warrant an investigation into the government’s decision to award it $21m in federal gas exploration grants.
According to reports, the company’s chairman, Paul Espie, is a frequent Liberal party donor. That was made public in the inquiry, and has been previously described in parliament as a “doyen” of the party.
Almost half of the $50 million funding has already been granted to a single recipient – Empire Energy.
Empire Energy shares connections with the Liberal party, according to the upper house inquiry.
