Thread by @jommy_tee

THREAD:

COALS to INDIA?

In May 2019, Morrison won an unlikely election victory, significantly propelled to office by the campaign trickery of Crosby Textor (CT).

CT not only operate as dark arts masters for the LNP and UK Tories, they also run traditional lobbying services.

This includes cutting backroom deals etc and have tentacles in many other countries…..including very recently in India.

I only highlight this because of Morrison’s trip to India this month. Morrison’s staff is full coal loving and former CT staff
michaelwest.com.au/people/revolvi…

As always it is interesting timing that CT set up shop in India, in July 2019 - a short 2 months after that unlikely Morrison victory.

CT India only has 2 directors and 2 shareholders: Lynton Crosby and former teleco CEO and consultant, Atul Jhamb.

CT India have been quick off the mark, within 2 weeks, a full blown CT Group delegation had winged its way from Europe to set foot in India and start lobbying. The trip was not widely publicised, sometimes being covert is best for all.

Nonetheless, we know that the CT gang did meet with the Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat on 8 August 2019….a full 2 weeks after the company was incorporated.

Now that's a fast start for a start-up to get the ear of a state CM..greased lightning.

A snap of the delegation

The state of Gujarat, though not a household name to us here, is the home state of Indian PM, Narendra Modi (Modi was the former CM of Gujarat before becoming PM and luvs a selfie with Morrison)….

Gujarat is also the HQ of the Adani empire.

A reminder that CT love coal, being the backroom boys that created “Project Caesar”, which was a covert campaign to prop up coal. Exposed here in the Guardian

theguardian.com/business/2019/…

Adani, apart from wanting to dig up and export Qld coal, is building a $2B power station in Godda in Gujarat - though it appears to have received $1.4M of concessional loans from state-owned lenders with the eligibility criteria for the loans being suitably amended.

A few special sweetheart deals later, some dodgy environmental practices, and land resumptions, and we have a “viable” project - an all too familiar tale.

Land resumption video 👇

A very good account by the NY Times of the role of Adani and "How one billionaire could keep three countries hooked on coal for decades" can be found here:

nytimes.com/2019/08/15/cli…

In the end power from the plant will be exported to Bangladesh, of course Adani needs coal to feed the beast, and Australia has plenty to burn….and a government full of coal-loving ministers and advisers all too willing to oblige.

As always, timing is everything and CT have been lucky to set-up shop in India and get to see the great state of Gujarat.

And all ahead of the Indian PM's October invitation to our coal-clutching Member for Cook.

Sweet timing, indeed.

It was remiss of me, I neglected to link this in the first tweet of this thread.

canberratimes.com.au/story/6192627/…