“Coal Australia is an organisation established and funded by the coal industry. Its members include some of Australia’s largest coal companies. Company records show it was registered in early 2023 and has four directors, each of whom is a senior executive within either Whitehaven Coal, Peabody Energy, New Hope or Yancoal – all coal companies listed as members of Coal Australia. Coal Australia’s company secretary is also the CFO of Bowen Coking Coal.

The donation disclosures show that Coal Australia contributed $7.12 million to groups with the veneer of being grassroots organisations – with names like Australians for Prosperity, Energy for Australians and Jobs for Mining Communities.”