LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Sir – The NT Government must come clean about how its spending priorities will impact on the Territory’s environment as it announced over $850,000 in grants available to mining companies for exploration on the same day that a New Matilda article has revealed that mining companies have claimed tax breaks over $145 million for lobbying activities.
The news comes as environment organisations across the Territory suffer complete operational funding cuts by governments, including the Environment Centre NT ($235,000) and the Arid Lands Environment Centre ($180,000).
The Senate Committee on Environment and Communications launched an inquiry into the tax deductibility status of environmental organisations in May this year. In the course of the inquiry it has been revealed that the mining industry – itself a supporter of the inquiry – has claimed tax deductibility of its own lobbying efforts.
As Environment Centre Acting Director Anna Boustead puts it: “What this reveals is that governments are not concerned about taxpayers’ money going toward mining industry lobbyists who stand to gain rich profits from putting the environment at risk but would rather focus their efforts on a group of environmental charities working towards making a better world.”
Places such as Kakadu, Watarrka (Kings Canyon), Litchfield and West MacDonnell Ranges would not be national parks were it not for the efforts of those lobbying for the protection of the environment.
Jimmy Cocking
Director, Arid Lands Environment Centre (pictured)