Scrap public money for fracking
Fracking corporation Empire Energy is under investigation for wrongfully using $28.7 million in "research and development" public funding for gas exploration.1
The scheme forbids funds being used for gas exploration, but Empire Energy thinks they can get away with it – boasting about the public funding to draw investors for their dangerous fracking plans.2,3,4
Together we need to ramp up the pressure on the Albanese Government to claw back these millions of dollars before Empire Energy makes key investment decisions.
Will you add your name to urge Treasurer Jim Chalmers to force Empire Energy to return the funds and scrap public money handouts to gas once and for all?
The scheme forbids funds being used for gas exploration, but Empire Energy thinks they can get away with it – boasting about the public funding to draw investors for their dangerous fracking plans.2,3,4
Together we need to ramp up the pressure on the Albanese Government to claw back these millions of dollars before Empire Energy makes key investment decisions.
Will you add your name to urge Treasurer Jim Chalmers to force Empire Energy to return the funds and scrap public money handouts to gas once and for all?
The research and development scheme (Research and Development Tax Incentive) is a federally funded tax offset for companies to engage in research and innovation.5
The public funding is only available to eligible companies engaging in suitable research and development activities. It is clear that the funds cannot be used for "prospecting, exploring or drilling for minerals."6
Empire Energy has publicly boasted about receiving $28.8 million through the scheme for fossil gas exploration and appraisal projects it has carried out over the past three years.7
The Albanese Government must urgently clean up the 'research and development' scheme to claw back public money for gas and ensure no fossil fuel corporations can profit from it going forward. Will you add your name to the petition?
The public funding is only available to eligible companies engaging in suitable research and development activities. It is clear that the funds cannot be used for "prospecting, exploring or drilling for minerals."6
Empire Energy has publicly boasted about receiving $28.8 million through the scheme for fossil gas exploration and appraisal projects it has carried out over the past three years.7
The Albanese Government must urgently clean up the 'research and development' scheme to claw back public money for gas and ensure no fossil fuel corporations can profit from it going forward. Will you add your name to the petition?
For a government that was elected on a platform centred around strong climate action, their 2023 Federal Budget was a let down, with millions in new public funding for gas.8
There were some positive bits for climate and communities, such as the Household electrification package (a good start to help people save money by getting off expensive, polluting gas), and the National Net Zero Authority (an important win for Australia's energy workers, their families and communities, and for the climate).
But in general, the budget did not meet the ambition on which the Albanese Government was elected upon, nor which communities and the climate crisis calls for.
In addition to $1.9 billion in public funding for the Middle Arm gas hub that would fast-track fracking in the Beetaloo Basin, they confirmed $214.9 million in Morrison-era handouts for gas industry roads. And the Northern Territory government is now requesting even more public money for the Middle Arm gas hub, bringing the total cost of the Middle Arm gas hub up to a staggering $3.6 billion.9
And now it has been revealed that the Government had been handing out millions to fracking corporations as 'research and development' grants - when the scheme forbids funds being used for gas exploration.10
This includes $28.8 million for fracking corporation Empire Energy over 3 years, and $7.05 million for oil and gas corporations Blue Energy and Galilee Energy.11
Add your name to the petition calling on the Treasurer to ensure the 2024 budget contains no subsidies for polluting gas.
There were some positive bits for climate and communities, such as the Household electrification package (a good start to help people save money by getting off expensive, polluting gas), and the National Net Zero Authority (an important win for Australia's energy workers, their families and communities, and for the climate).
But in general, the budget did not meet the ambition on which the Albanese Government was elected upon, nor which communities and the climate crisis calls for.
In addition to $1.9 billion in public funding for the Middle Arm gas hub that would fast-track fracking in the Beetaloo Basin, they confirmed $214.9 million in Morrison-era handouts for gas industry roads. And the Northern Territory government is now requesting even more public money for the Middle Arm gas hub, bringing the total cost of the Middle Arm gas hub up to a staggering $3.6 billion.9
And now it has been revealed that the Government had been handing out millions to fracking corporations as 'research and development' grants - when the scheme forbids funds being used for gas exploration.10
This includes $28.8 million for fracking corporation Empire Energy over 3 years, and $7.05 million for oil and gas corporations Blue Energy and Galilee Energy.11
Add your name to the petition calling on the Treasurer to ensure the 2024 budget contains no subsidies for polluting gas.
The Middle Arm development is a gas industry plan for a massive port and industrial hub on Darwin Harbour.
The ABC obtained the NT Government's original business case for Middle Arm through freedom of information requests. It details how the new hub would pump out petrochemicals using fracked Beetaloo gas that steamrolls the consent of Traditional Owners.12
After GetUp members – together with Traditional Owners and local campaigners – snapped into action to challenge the subsidy, the Albanese Government greenwashed the project as "sustainable".13 And the NT government quietly scrubbed the word "petrochemicals" from the Middle Arm website.14
It's shrouded in controversy and secrecy, and has dire consequences for Traditional Owners, surrounding communities, and our climate.
Together we won a Senate inquiry into the Middle Arm gas hub, with hearings and recommendations due in the first half of 2024.
Recently, it's been revealed the NT has requested more in public money, bringing the total cost of the Middle Arm gas hub to a staggering $3.5 billion. But there's still time to stop this proposed funding from making it into the next budget.
Will you add your name to the petition calling for no gas handouts? 15
The ABC obtained the NT Government's original business case for Middle Arm through freedom of information requests. It details how the new hub would pump out petrochemicals using fracked Beetaloo gas that steamrolls the consent of Traditional Owners.12
After GetUp members – together with Traditional Owners and local campaigners – snapped into action to challenge the subsidy, the Albanese Government greenwashed the project as "sustainable".13 And the NT government quietly scrubbed the word "petrochemicals" from the Middle Arm website.14
It's shrouded in controversy and secrecy, and has dire consequences for Traditional Owners, surrounding communities, and our climate.
Together we won a Senate inquiry into the Middle Arm gas hub, with hearings and recommendations due in the first half of 2024.
Recently, it's been revealed the NT has requested more in public money, bringing the total cost of the Middle Arm gas hub to a staggering $3.5 billion. But there's still time to stop this proposed funding from making it into the next budget.
Will you add your name to the petition calling for no gas handouts? 15
[1] Federal government to investigate millions of dollars given to oil and gas companies under research and development scheme, ABC News, 20 February 2024.
[2] Empire Energy lands A$15.6 million in research and development tax offset, Proactive, 24 October 2023.
[3] Longest Ever Beetaloo Horizontal Well Drilled, ListCorp, 17 November 2022.
[4] Beetaloo Operations Update, ListCorp, 27 September 2021.
[5] Offset your R and D costs to help innovate and grow your business, Australian Government: Business, 18 January 2024.
[6] See reference 1.
[7] See references 2, 3 and 4.
[8] $2.5 billion infrastructure boost for the Northern Territory, The Hon Catherine King MP, 16 October 2022.
[9] Darwin Harbour Middle Arm expansion plan slammed by critics as 'extraordinary fossil fuel subsidy', ABC News, 15 December 2023.
[10]See reference 1.
[11] See reference 1.
[12] Business case for Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct triggers climate concerns from critics, ABC News, 29 December 2022.
[13] NT government deletes references to 'petrochemicals' from Middle Arm website, rejects 'greenwashing' claims, ABC News, 26 November 2022.
[14] See reference 6.
[15] See reference 9.
[2] Empire Energy lands A$15.6 million in research and development tax offset, Proactive, 24 October 2023.
[3] Longest Ever Beetaloo Horizontal Well Drilled, ListCorp, 17 November 2022.
[4] Beetaloo Operations Update, ListCorp, 27 September 2021.
[5] Offset your R and D costs to help innovate and grow your business, Australian Government: Business, 18 January 2024.
[6] See reference 1.
[7] See references 2, 3 and 4.
[8] $2.5 billion infrastructure boost for the Northern Territory, The Hon Catherine King MP, 16 October 2022.
[9] Darwin Harbour Middle Arm expansion plan slammed by critics as 'extraordinary fossil fuel subsidy', ABC News, 15 December 2023.
[10]See reference 1.
[11] See reference 1.
[12] Business case for Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct triggers climate concerns from critics, ABC News, 29 December 2022.
[13] NT government deletes references to 'petrochemicals' from Middle Arm website, rejects 'greenwashing' claims, ABC News, 26 November 2022.
[14] See reference 6.
[15] See reference 9.
✍️ADD YOUR NAME
To Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Industry Minister Ed Husic and Infrastructure Minister Catherine King,
Public money should be used for public good, not gas. We urge you to:
10,661 signatures
In taking action, I agree to GetUp's Privacy Policy.