BHP’s millions for Minerals Council speak louder than words

Commenting on a report that BHP will not support the Minerals Council of Australia’s bid to strip environmental groups of their ability to advocate for policy change, Executive Director of Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) Brynn O’Brien said.

“BHP remains the Minerals Council of Australia’s biggest funder. While this is the case, it should expect to be held to account by shareholders for using their money to bankroll the MCA’s advocacy efforts, including their obstructive and misleading public policy positions on climate change and energy, and their attacks on civil society.

“MCA has been a toxic drag on Australian public debate and democracy. They have played a leading role in this country’s last decade of climate policy failure.

“Proper scrutiny of corporate payments to coal lobbyists would advance both local and global progress on climate and energy policy. BHP shareholders have an opportunity to get this work underway at BHP’s AGM by voting in favour of ACCR’s resolution.

The ACCR BHP shareholder resolution will be heard at BHP’s Australian AGM on 16 November. It calls for the termination of paid membership of industry bodies like the MCA that have demonstrated a pattern of advocacy on policy issues at odds with the company’s positions over the period 2012 to the present day.

View the resolutions and supporting statements with references here.