SANTOS is being investigated by the NSW Department of Planning over undisclosed political donations, however the company says everything is by the book.
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In NSW, the developers of major projects are required to disclose all donations of $1000 or more to the Department of Planning in the two years prior to an application being lodged, so the donations can be put on public exhibition.
In 2013, Santos made five donations, totalling $7575, to the Nationals which don’t appear on the Department of Planning’s website.
A Santos spokesman said the money in question was donated to the Nationals’ federal campaign, which meant the company had no obligation to declare it at a state level.
The money was donated to the NSW branch of the federal campaign, which led to the confusion, the spokesman said.
A NSW Department of Planning spokesman said compliance officers would still investigate the matter.
“The Environment Defenders Office has asked the department to look into whether Santos has breached compliance in their disclosure of reportable political donations,” he said.
“Allegations of reportable political donation disclosure breaches are taken seriously. Political donation disclosures are important to ensure transparency.”
Wilderness Society campaign manager Naomi Hodgson said the murkiness of the situation showed the problem with political donations.
“Political donations have a corrupting influence,” Ms Hodgson said.
“NSW has banned property developer donations, and it’s time we put a stop to large coal seam gas and mining companies such as Santos donating to political parties too.”
Since 2010, Santos has donated more than $560,000 to the Liberal National Party.
Liverpool Plains farmer and North West Alliance spokeswoman Megan Kuhn questioned what the company was trying to gain through its political donations.
“It doesn’t sit well with me – whether it be at a state or federal level, money like that makes you ask what they are buying,” Ms Kuhn said.
“If they want the community to have faith in them, they need to have more transparency. Why not be upfront and put it all on the table, so the public can see it for what it really is? Every time we turn around, there is something mudding our opinion of Santos.”
A report from the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility ranked Santos the lowest of the top 20 ASX companies and other selected resources companies regarding the transparency of political expenditure, at only 9 per cent.
