Santos denied the allegation, with a spokesperson telling ICN sister publication Energy News that it was par for the course for the company to declare all donations “whether or not they trigger reporting requirements” as per its policy.
“Donations include attendance at functions, conferences, sponsorships and events,” the spokesperson added.
The alleged smoking gun were Santos’ 2014/15 annual financial disclosure returns, released yesterday, having been filed with the Australian Electoral Commission on November 17, 2015.
The document showed Santos donated close to $170,000 to both major political parties at both state and federal level over a period that coincided with both the NSW and Queensland state election campaigns in which CSG was a hot topic.
“When big mining companies like Santos make political donations to the tune of nearly $170,000 it raises the serious question of what type of influence or outcomes they’re expecting to buy,” LTG spokesperson Phil Laird said.
“The only way to restore community confidence is a total ban on political donations from mining and gas companies and an urgent real-time reporting of all donations.
“Donations from Santos and other coal and unconventional gas companies weaken democracy and undermine the community’s confidence in transparent and open government decision making.
“These mining companies thrive or die based on government determinations and regulation. There should be no question that these important decisions are made based on merit and the community can have faith in the process.
“Investigations by the Independent Commission Against Corruption in NSW have highlighted the insidious perversion of our democratic systems that can occur when political donations and their influence are left unchecked.
“It’s time to clean up the donations loopholes allowing the big mining companies to exert undue influence on politicians and their decision making.”
The NSW Environmental Defenders office started legal proceedings in December on behalf of People for the Plains to challenge Santos’ approval to build a water treatment facility at Leewood, a property on the Newell Highway 24km south of Narrabri that Santos owns with its joint venture partner, privately owned utility EnergyAustralia.
Energy News recently revealed that Santos actually went out of its way to go through a more onerous approvals process for its Leewood Phase 2 facility, which was approved in August by NSW’s Office for Coal Seam Gas.
