These updates capture the most important items of evidence collected by the LobbyMap platform, allowing users to track how companies are industry associations are seeking to influence climate policy in real-time.
On 4 May, the Australian Energy Producers CEO Samantha McCulloch released a statement congratulating Prime Minister Albanese on his re-election and called on the government to prioritize new fossil gas supply and streamline environmental approvals. McCulloch reiterated support for the Future Gas Strategy and criticized the Greens, claiming the election showed a lack of public support for their policies and arguing they should not be allowed to block legislation in the Senate.
On 2 April, the Australian Financial Review reported that Coalition resources spokeswoman Susan McDonald stated a future Coalition government would classify gas as a critical mineral, making it eligible for support measures. The CEO of Australian Energy Producers, Samantha McCulloch, appeared to endorse the proposal, claiming it "underlined the importance of gas to energy security and the urgent need for supply and investment."
In a 20 March media release which responded to the Australian Energy Market Operator’s annual 'Gas Statement of Opportunities', the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry Chief Executive, Andrew McKellar emphasized concerns about an emerging gas shortage in Australia. McKellar called on the Australian Government to “help streamline gas exploration and supply by cutting the regulatory burden on energy companies and fast-tracking environmental approval processes.” The comments also follow Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s decision last month to delay the federal government’s ruling on Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf gas project expansion until the end of March.
In a 19 March media release and a 20 March interview in Sky News, the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies’ Chief Executive, Warren Pearce called on the Australian Government to approve Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf gas project expansion. Pearce also supported an announcement made by Australia's Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, which approved the exapnsion of the project within 30 days of his winning office, in which he stressed the need for additional gas projects in Western Australia in the transition away from coal. The comments follow Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s decision last month to delay the federal government’s ruling on the gas project expansion until the end of March.
In a 12 March interview in Sky News and an opinion piece in The West Australian, the Business Council of Australia (BCA)’s Chief Executive Bran Black criticized approval delays to Woodside Energy’s planned expansion of the North West Shelf gas project in Western Australia. Black stressed the need for new investment in fossil gas as a “critical” transitional fuel and called for a quick approval of the gas project expansion. The comments from the Chief Executive of the BCA, which includes Woodside Energy among its members, follow Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s decision last month to delay the federal government’s ruling on the gas project expansion until the end of March.
In a 7 March press release, Polestar advocated for Australia’s Federal Government to remain committed to the existing New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). Polestar’s statement is in response to recent comments from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) which suggest the NVES should be weakened.
On 26 February, the Australian Energy Producers Strongly supporting maintenance of high GHG emissions energy mix released a plan for Australia’s Economic and Energy Security, calling for new fossil gas supply ahead of the federal election, which must be held by 17 May. The report argues that increased gas production would ease cost-of-living pressures, reduce emissions, and support continued exports. It also appears to advocate for weakening the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to fast-track fossil fuel approvals and for including gas in the Opposing renewable energy standards Capacity Investment Scheme, a mechanism designed to incentivize renewables.
On 12 February, the Australian Parliament reached an agreement between Labor and the Greens to ensure that the Capacity Investment Scheme includes at least 23 gigawatts of wind and solar energy and 9 gigawatts of clean storage, effectively ruling out fossil gas from the policy.
This decision follows sustained advocacy from the fossil fuel sector, which had pushed for fossil gas to be included. In response, the CEO of Australian Energy Producers criticized the move in a 13 February press release, claiming the government had 'capitulated to the Greens’ anti-gas agenda', and arguing that urgent investment in new fossil gas supply is needed.
In a joint position paper outlining a reform agenda to boost demand-side energy resources to support the net zero transition in Australia, the Energy Efficiency Council and Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) called for several actions of reform, including the establishment of a national energy performance agency and setting of national energy performance targets. In addition, the Energy Efficiency Council and Ai Group promoted measures to reduce the Australian energy system’s reliance on high-emissions infrastructure and higher cost technologies, including fossil gas peaking plants and pumped hydro, advocating the direct use of cheap renewable energy to drive down the costs of the transition and deliver its benefits sooner.
In a 28 November press release, the CEO of the Australian Energy Producers, Samantha McCulloch, stated opposition to amendments to the Future Made in Australia bill, which allowed it to pass the Senate. The amendments ensure that no support will be provided to coal, oil, and gas under the policy. McCulloch opposed the development, claiming that 'energy reliability and affordability requires continued investment in new gas supply'.
In an interview with Chris Kenny for the Opinion section of Sky New Australia on 18 November, the CEO of the NSW Minerals Council, Stephen Galilee, expressed strong concerns about the economic and technical feasibility of a transition towards a renewables-dominated electricity mix in Australia. Arguing for a continued role for fossil gas and coal, Stephen Galilee stated that politicians are ruling out what could replace existing base load generation “without allowing us to have a proper argument about it and a debate about the merits or otherwise.”
As reported in an 18 November WA Today article, Fortescue Executive Chairman, Andrew Forrest, became the first major business leader to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (the Treaty), stating that "The only solution that can bring our energy costs down and decarbonise the planet at the same time is to stop burning fossil fuels." The Treaty, which was launched in 2019, calls on nations to explicitly stop the expansion of fossil fuels and manage a global just transition away from coal, oil, and gas in a manner that is both fast and fair.
Fortescue called for greater government and industry action to support the decarbonization of the maritime sector in a 12 November joint letter at COP29. The call to action advocates for the International Maritime Organization to adopt a zero emissions greenhouse fuel standard for the maritime sector, in addition to a "universal and sufficiently-priced" carbon levy.
Several hydrogen related industry associations, including Hydrogen Europe, Hydrogen Council, Australian Hydrogen Council, Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA), and Japan Hydrogen Association (JH2A) signed an open letter calling for further incentives and mandates for clean hydrogen production to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors. The letter was released on 15 November, during COP29 and supports the COP29 Declarations and Pledges Letter.
In a 17 November article published by The Australian, Glencore CEO Gary Nagle was quoted stating that Australia risks falling behind other nations in prioritizing cheap energy, and that stakeholders outside of Australia were more open to discussing coal's role in the energy mix. Nagle also stated that the energy transition will not happen overnight. The Chief Executive's statement coincided with incumbent US President Donald Trump assigning the CEO of a fracking company as his energy secretary.
AGL Energy CEO, Damien Nicks, was reported by the Sydney Morning Herald to have backed the next government to maintain Australia's "ambitious" 2030 renewable energy targets. Speaking at a Climate and Energy Summit, Nicks stated that the targets were challenging but should not be abandoned if the coalition wins next year's federal election.
In a media release published 16 October, the Energy Users Association of Australia (EUAA) supported the Liberal–National Coalition’s proposal to widen the scope of the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) to include fossil gas, stating that Australia has “an urgent need for more gas.” The CEO of the EUAA, Andrew Richards, added that fossil gas was “a critical enabler to realise a least cost transition to net zero.” The CIS, which currently excludes all fossil fuels, was launched last year as a national framework to encourage new investment in renewable and clean dispatchable capacity.
On 15 October, Rio Tinto published an updated position statement appearing to outline its support for reforms to Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The company’s statement included calls for reforms that result in “strengthened and independent compliance and enforcement powers” and transparent “disclosure of project climate emissions”. This contrasts with the company’s position in a March 2024 letter to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, in which it advocated for Australia's Prime Minister to “personally intervene” to rule out the introduction of climate considerations into the EPBC Act. However, although Rio Tinto's statement acknowledged the "interdependencies between nature and climate", the company does not clearly state whether it supports the inclusion of climate considerations into project assessment processes as part of the Government's Nature Positive reforms.
In its 2024 Climate Transition Plan, published in September 2024, Fortescue Metals Group advocated for the Australian Government to phase-out fossil fuel subsidies and to introduce fossil fuel phase-out targets to support the transition to renewables and other green fuels. The company also advocated for Australia to set a science-based 2035 greenhouse gas emissions target of at least 75 per cent below 2005 levels.
Following the 15 October announcement by the shadow energy minister to include fossil gas in the Capacity Investment Scheme—a renewable energy initiative—Australian fossil fuel industry groups swiftly voiced their support. The CEO of Australian Energy Producers welcomed the move in a same-day press release, urging the government to also adopt it before the next election. Similarly, the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association indicated its backing in an article in the AFR.