The links between politicians and dirty energy

Key facts

• Total emissions: 296 million tonnes
• Shareholdings: 134
• Travel or hospitality: 58
• Gifts: 42
• Donations: $2.2 million since 2019

Fifty eight elected representatives have connections to companies that the parliament needs to regulate if Australia is to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and achieve substantial emissions reductions by 2030.

On a party basis, 31 (53.5%) are from Coalition parties, 25 (43%) are from Labor, and 2 (3.5%) are independents.

The connections are heavily concentrated with the very biggest emitters: 22 of 58 representatives have declared that they or their spouse/partner and dependent children have at some point this parliamentary term had interests in half of the top 10 emitters, which collectively belched out more direct (Scope 1) emissions in 2020-21 (150.1 million tonnes of C02-e) than the next 90 emitters combined (146.5 million tonnes).

As bad as these figures are, they probably understate the true number of politicians with links to emitters as the interest registers only require the disclosure of gifts, and travel or hospitality where the value exceeds $300.

Of course, having a financial or beneficial link to a large emitter does not automatically create a conflict of interest with a parliamentarian's public duties. Indeed several MPs and senators with direct or family shareholdings are advocates for meaningful action on climate change.

However the scale of the connections - at least 25% of the parliament - and the practice of emitters trying to influence politicians with gifts, travel and hospitality raises a perception of conflict of interest and weakens public confidence in Australia's democratic system.

Open Politics is progressively publishing information below on MPs and senators who have declared interests in the 100 largest emitters, along with the donations these companies have made to the major parties this parliamentary term.

On Tuesday we brought you information on companies ranked between 51 to 100 on the Clean Energy Regulator's 2020-21 emissions league table, and yesterday we added companies ranked between 11 - 50. Today we finish with the top 10.

Corporate emissions 2020-21