rio tinto

rap sheet:

• company net earnings = $14.2 billion¹
• pollution emissions  = 43.11 million metric tons²
• climate lobby spend = $2.1 million³ to the minerals council of australia [the peak body that represents the interests of fossil fuel companies]

one of the largest mining companies in the world with operations on six continents, rio tinto has an impressive track record of 101 violations on record⁴ relating to environment, labour relations and safety

recent lowlights include the destruction of 46,000 year old juukan gorge⁵ cave site in may this year after being fully aware of its cultural heritage and significance.

rio tinto have been proud recipients of: 2017 state arts and culture partnership honours winners – acknowledging the outstanding contributions of businesses who partner with arts and cultural organisations across wa – nominated by the art gallery of western australia.

woodside energy

rap sheet:

• company earnings (net profit): 1,063 million⁶
• pollution emissions = 10 million ton⁷
• tax paid = $447 million in australia (2019⁸) but $0 in 2016-17⁹
• political donations = 237,300¹⁰ during 2018 election – biggest singular political donation in aus that year.

during covid the company took some blows due to falling oil and gas prices, with a half yearly net profit drop of 28%¹¹. despite these challenges, woodside achieved its highest ever first-half production¹², meaning it dug up, polluted and tapped more than ever, they just got paid less for it.

woodside’s burrup hub project¹³ would be australia’s most polluting fossil fuel project ever to be developed, with a total lifetime carbon footprint of over 6 billion tonnes of co2 (6.218 gigatons).

woodside have been proud recipients of: 2017 state arts and culture partnership honours winners –  acknowledging the 27 year partnership with the western australian youth orchestra

chevron

rap sheet:

• company net earnings = $8.4 billion¹⁴
• pollution emissions = 43 million tons (1965 – 2018)¹⁵
• tax paid = $ 0  (2017/18)¹⁶
• $49 million¹⁷ (2019)
• climate lobby spend = $29 million¹⁸ internationally (2019)

on the scene in australia for 60 years, chevron have the reputation for being seriously avoidy¹⁹ on tax and lobby hard against any climate action²⁰ that may affect its profits. this year, chevron allegedly sacked 230 workers²¹ despite announcing an annual profit of $1.4 billion from its australian operations. the gorgon and wheatstone lng ²² projects in wa are making a tidy $32 million dollars per day²³. yes, thats per day.

chevron has at least 600 shell companies²⁴ – and likely  for hundreds more – registered in bermuda and delaware. chevron’s latest tax scheme, currently under investigation by the australian tax office (ato), could reduce chevron’s tax bill by $35 million or more.

chevron have been proud initiators of: chevron focus environment²⁵ wa school photography competition: 2003 – present  the awards encourage all wa primary and secondary students to ‘be aware of their environment and understand the need to safeguard ecosystems for future generations’.

2020 national diversity and inclusion partner for the australian of the year awards²⁶

disclaimer:

the artwash award is an initiative of pvi collective. pvi endeavours to ensure that the information we provide is correct at the time of publication, but no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy.  where a reference is made to statements or reports by others, pvi is referring to that statement or report as made or reported by that third party and is not making the statement or report itself and all such reference should be read accordingly. pvi does not accept responsibility for any decisions made in reliance on this document.

references

1. rio tinto. (26 february 2020). annual results 2019

2. unsw. (2019). practical justice initiative australia’s carbon majors report

3. reuters. (26 march 2020). rio tinto raps australian lobby group for coal support

4. good jobs first. (retrieved 17 september 2021). rio tinto | violation tracker parent company summary

5. nitv. (27 may 2020). one of the country’s oldest aboriginal heritage sites destroyed by mining blast

6. woodside. (2019). 2019 annual report incorporating appendix 4e

7. clean state & ccwa. (october 2019). runaway train: the impact of wa’s lng industry on meeting our paris targets and national efforts to tackle climate change

8. woodside. (retrieved 17 september 2021). we pay our taxes

9. the guardian (13 december 2018). ten companies pay 45% of all corporate tax in australia

10. market forces. (february 2019). friends in high places: fossil fuel political donations

11. share cafe. (14 august 2020). woodside laments oil collapse with huge half year loss

12. woodside. (13 august 2020). woodside half-year 2020 results

13. clean state. (retrieved 17 september 2021). australia’s most polluting project

14. the west australian. (3 may 2019). chevron’s $8b profit from wa… but just $50m in tax

15. climate accountability institute. (retrieved 17 september 2021). climate accountability institute

16. market forces. {retrieved 17 september 2021). do you pay more tax than the big fossil fuel companies?

17. the west australian. (3 may 2019). chevron’s $8b profit from wa… but just $50m in tax

18. the guardian. (22 march 2019). top oil firms spending millions lobbying to block climate change policies, says report

19. abc news. (21 april 2017). us oil giant chevron faces $300 million tax bill after ato court victory

20. influence map (retrieved 17 september 2021). chevron

21. the sydney morning herald. (10 september 2020). mass job losses as chevron sacks 230 workers amid gorgon plant safety concerns

22. clean state & ccwa. (october 2019). runaway train: the impact of wa’s lng industry on meeting our paris targets and national efforts to tackle climate change

23. the west australian. (5 february 2018). chevron lng projects gorgon and wheatstone earning $32 million a day

24. international transport workers’ federation. (september 2015). chevron’s tax schemes: piping profits out of australia?

25. chevron global australia. (retrieved 17 september 2021). celebrating wa’s biodiversity through the camera lens

26. auspire. (27 july 2020). auspire welcomes chevron australia as national diversity and inclusion partner for australian of the year awards