"BHP backs green groups over the Minerals Council as industry rift widens", 9 Nov 2017

BHP has told environmental groups it does not support elements of a campaign by the Minerals Council to impose greater control on their spending...It is an unusual alliance to say the least — a mining giant siding with green groups against the powerful lobbyists working for its own industry which it helps bankroll...But in an extraordinary move...BHP has written to charity groups saying it does not support the winding back of their tax advantages. "We do not support changes that limit public advocacy to 10 percent of funds, or requirements to spend 25 percent of funds on environmental remediation," BHP told five environmental and community groups it wrote to...BHP also set out its broad support for the advocacy work of charities, describing it as, "An important contribution to public policy development and the democratic process". The ABC approached the Minerals Council but it declined to comment...BHP says it will complete a review of its membership of industry associations by the end of the year. But activists hope next week's AGM is D-Day, with the board facing a resolution to dump the Minerals Council.