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.
Chevron CEO, Mike Wirth promoted gas investments and raised concerns with Western Australia’s domestic gas reservation policy in a direct meeting with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, as reported by The Australian on 15 August. Wirth also cautioned against a global transition away from fossil fuels and appeared to support the US Trump administration’s decision to withdraw the country from the Paris Agreement, in an interview with The Australian published on the same day.
In a 26 August media release, Business for 75, a coalition of business leaders calling for Australia to commit to a 2035 emissions target of at least 75%, released modelling by Deloitte suggesting that Australia's GDP will likely be $370 billion greater by 2035 under a 75% emissions reduction target, compared to current projections. The coalition's media release was accompanied by supporting comments from a number of Australia's largest companies, including Fortescue Chief Executive Dino Otranto, who stated that the "Australian business community is ready to back a strong emissions target of 75 per cent".
The Business for 75 campaign's open letter to the Australian Government has been signed by over 350 businesses, including IKEA, Unilever, Atlassian, Fortescue, Volvo Group Australia, Squadron Energy, the Energy Efficiency Council and the Smart Energy Council.
The Australian Government is intending to release its final target in "the coming weeks" according to a 15 August Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council Communique.
As reported in a 17 August Sydney Morning Herald article, Shell told the federal government it could support new gas reservation rules if applied equitably across the industry, but only alongside regulatory changes to accelerate drilling and new gas supply, according to comments from Shell Australia chair, Cecile Wake. Wake claimed that without measures to expand supply, reservation would curb investment and worsen the problem it sought to address.
A growing number of businesses are calling on the Australian Government to commit to a +75% emissions reduction target by 2035. Over 300 businesses have signed on to the Business for 75% campaign, including Fortescue, Unilever, Atlassian, Volvo Group Australia, Squadron Energy and the Smart Energy Council. The federal government is required to announce its 2035 emissions reduction target by September.
In a 4 August press release, the Electric Vehicle Council Chief Executive Julie Delvecchio advocated for Australia’s Electric Car Discount to be maintained, stating that the end of this purchase incentives program “would pull the handbrake on electric vehicle adoption across Australia.” Delvecchio’s comment follows the publication of the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on Investing in cheaper, cleaner energy and the net zero transformation which included a recommendation to remove the exemption of electric vehicles from the Fringe Benefits Tax upon the implementation of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard. The CEO argued that this move is “short-sighted”, emphasizing the need for both policies to “work together, not in isolation.”
In a 31 July press release, Squadron Energy Chief Executive Rob Wheals communicated support for the Business for 75% campaign, a business-led campaign calling on the Australian Government to commit to a 75% emissions reduction target by 2035, stating that an ambitious target will show “Australia is serious about decarbonising” and “give investors and industry the confidence they need to get on with the job.” While the CEO appeared to support the decarbonization of Australia's energy sector in the same press release, Squadron Energy has also previously advocated for continued fossil gas supply in Australia via LNG import terminals, for example in a 14 March press release.
On 23 July, Fortescue, alongside Future Group and Bank Australia, launched the Business for 75% campaign, a business-led campaign calling on the Australian Government to commit to a 75% emissions reduction target by 2035. The campaign includes an open letter to the Australian Government advocating for a 2035 emissions reduction target of at least 75%, noting that a 75% target will "set the right policy direction to drive action and investor confidence" and "strengthen Australia's position in global supply chains". Fortescue CEO, Dino Otranto, reiterated the company's support for an ambitious 2035 target in a 23 July Sydney Morning Herald article, stating that Fortescue believes the government "must set a 75 per cent emissions reduction target for 2035".
In a 14 July article in The Australian, Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI) Chief Executive Andrew McKellar stated that an Australian 2035 emissions reduction target of between 65% and 75%, as suggested by the Climate Change Authority, would be “exceedingly challenging for the Australian economy.” McKellar’s comment follows the publication of the association’s May 2025 submission to the Productivity Commission’s Five Pillars of Productivity Inquiry in which the ACCI presented its concerns about the achievability and economic costs of the discussed 2035 target, stressing the need to focus on market-based solutions to reduce emissions across the economy. In the same submission, the association also called on the Australian government to “unlock restrictions on gas exploration and streamline approvals,” emphasizing the need for increased domestic fossil gas supply.
In a 10 July media release, the CEO of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia, Rebecca Tomkinson, welcomed comments from the Premier of Western Australia suggesting that WA’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports are playing a key role in the decarbonization efforts of its Asian trading partners. Tomkinson appeared to reiterate the Premier’s stance on the need for a prolonged role for fossil gas in the energy mix, stating that “LNG has made WA one of the world’s most important energy exporters” and that “our gas is already helping our Asian neighbours replace more carbon-intensive coal.”
In 23 and 24 June media releases, several Australian industry associations supported the Victorian Government’s Gas Security Statement, which introduces new regulations to phase out fossil gas in residential and commercial buildings. The reforms announced by the Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan, include a requirement that gas hot water systems in households be replaced with efficient electric alternatives at end of life from 1 March, 2027, and that all new homes must be built to be fully electric from 1 January, 2027. However, the government also chose to exclude a phase out of gas space heaters as part of the reforms.
While the Smart Energy Council and Energy Efficiency Council called for more ambitious reforms to phase-out fossil gas from the energy mix and further reduce residential use, the Energy Users Association of Australia, Australian Industry Group, and Energy Networks Australia appeared to support the government's decision to exclude a phase out of gas space heaters as part of the reforms. This is despite the phase out of gas space heaters being included in the government's preferred option during consultation.
In an 11 June opinion piece in The Daily Telegraph, NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee emphasized the economic risk of ambitious 2035 greenhouse gas emissions targets in Australia, stating that higher targets would cost more jobs in heavy industries like mining and manufacturing and further increase electricity prices.
Galilee, who was commenting on Australia’s chance to co-host the 2026 Conference of the Parties (COP31) under the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC), suggested that the Australian Government prioritized a “highly ambitious target” for 2035 to enhance the country’s prospects of securing the hosting rights for COP31 over long-term economic objectives. The CEO put forward this claim as the development of the 2035 targets is currently underway and Australia’s next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is due later this year.
In a 29 May LinkedIn post, Fortescue opposed the decision of Australia’s re-elected Labor government to extend the life of Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf gas project until 2070, calling it “a step backwards for Australia.” The company questioned the role of fossil fuel subsidies in rewarding high-emitting companies and suggested that these public funds should be redirected towards eliminating emissions.
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.
This briefing offers three key observations on Australian corporate advocacy from the LobbyMap database that are likely to inform climate policy developments in the first year of Labor’s second term in government.
A new briefing analyzing corporate Australia's engagement with the Future Made in Australia plan and positioning on the possible future role of nuclear power generation.
A new report by InfluenceMap shows how the oil & gas and utilities industries are leveraging a common fossil fuel playbook to prolong the use of fossil gas in buildings globally.
A new report by InfluenceMap analyzes the corporate clients of the Big Six PR and advertising agency holding companies – Dentsu, Havas, IPG, Publicis, Omnicom, and WPP.
This briefing contains an overview of corporate lobbying that InfluenceMap detected related to fossil fuels for Q3 2024.
This bulletin offers insights on the climate policy engagement of major steel companies and their industry associations from the first half of 2024.
