Thread by @pollyjhemming

The Climate Change Authority is an independent statutory authority tasked with giving advice to the Australian Government on climate policy. It is hard to see how this advice will be independent when there appear to be conflicts of interest in the governance of the CCA. 🧵#auspol

Disclaimer: I am making no allegations of impropriety by any individual. However, there is clear potential for perceived conflicts by the appointment of industry interests to a government body shaping Australian climate policy. 1/

Section 28 of the the Climate Change Authority Act 2011 clearly states board members must not engage in any paid employment that conflicts or may conflict with the proper performance of his or her duties. #auspol 2/

This means that, regardless of if an interest is declared on individual matters, the legality of the appointment as a whole is still in question. 3/

Below is the probity report published by the CCA today in relation to a review of international offsets. The CCA also carries out reviews of domestic offsets & other matters related to energy & climate. The chair and a number of members have fossil, energy & carbon interests. 4/

Grant King: Chair, Climate Change Authority
5/

Susie Smith: Member, Climate Change Authority
6/

Mark Lewis: Member, Climate Change Authority
7/

All members declared their interests. However, it is shocking that these appointments were made at all considering the legislation and shows that that the integrity of governance in Australia is so broken that we're all OK with industry interests shaping climate policy. 8/