Australia’s biggest miner, BHP, has put the Minerals Council of Australia on notice, threatening to cancel its almost $2m yearly membership if it does not cease campaigning on climate and energy issues. BHP also considers its membership of 20 other industry bodies, declaring it will cancel its membership of the World Coal Association. The warning to the Minerals Council is likely to be taken seriously, given BHP provides the MCA with 17% of its revenue from membership fees. In the review, BHP noted its membership fees amount to just under $1.9m per year, and make up 17% of the MCA’s revenue. A spokesman for the Minerals Council of Australia said “BHP has been a valued member of the Minerals Council for many years, and we look forward to that relationship continuing in the future.”

Source: The Guardian December 19, 2017 02:26 UTC