SYDNEY, Aug 11 2020 – Strike Energy director and Chair of the Government’s National Covid-19 Commission (NCC) has told a Senate hearing that the body lobbied the Prime Minister to use public money to expand the fossil gas industry.The revelations come as a Freedom of Information request for the Commission’s Advanced Manufacturing Taskforce report was rejected on spurious Cabinet-in-confidence grounds.
In response to questioning by the committee, Mr Power said the NCC had “requested support from government” to develop infrastructure for the fossil gas industry through offtake agreements for pipelines and the creation of markets for gas-derived products like ammonium nitrate.
“It’s no surprise that a Commission stacked with gas executives is recommending policies that would waste public money on stranded gas projects and are refusing basic information to the public. Those recommendations must be rejected,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Campaigner Jonathan Moylan said
Mr Power also confirmed that despite numerous approaches from business leaders to support a more rapid shift to renewable energy to bring down energy costs and prepare for the future, that advice was ignored.
The hearing also revealed that the NCC now reports directly to the Prime Minister.
“The admission that a gas executive is reporting directly to the Prime Minister is deeply troubling, shows a complete disregard for normal democratic checks and balances, and puts the prospects of a viable and future-facing economic recovery at risk,” said Moylan.
Contact
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Communications Campaigner, Martin Zavan
0424 295 422