Full resolution wording and supporting statement (with footnotes) available at: https://publications.marketforces.org.au/link/636276/

Market Forces' latest APA Group investor briefing available at: https://investorbriefings.marketforces.org.au/link/483381/

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APA has signed multiple agreements with both Tamboran Resources (Tamboran) and Beetaloo Energy (Beetaloo) (formerly Empire Energy), including for the construction of the Sturt Plateau Pipeline for Tamboran. Members also note that Falcon Oil and Gas is a joint venture partner of Tamboran.

Considering the value APA places on health, safety, environment and heritage (HSEH), members are concerned by comments made by APA Chair Michael Fraser at the 2024 Annual Meeting. In response to a question highlighting publicly documented environmental and heritage incidents (highlighted below) with APA’s partners, Tamboran and Beetaloo, the Chair stated he was “not aware of those issues.”

Communities and environment
APA expects its suppliers to “engage with our communities and respect our environment."

Members are concerned about the environmental and heritage performance of APA’s key partners. Beetaloo Energy (Empire) previously agreed to pay a civil penalty to the US Environmental Protection Agency for “allegedly discharging oil into the Saline River."

Closer to home, Tamboran and Beetaloo (Empire) have had more than 30 recordable and reportable incidents at their Beetaloo operations since 2021. These incidents include fluid spills and contamination, with some of the most serious incidents being widely reported in the media. It has also been publicly reported that “Empire Energy has reported it did not tell the NT heritage regulator that Aboriginal stone tools were found near a well and then moved.”

The incidents in the previous paragraph have resulted from just the 16 wells APA’s partners have progressed in the Beetaloo Sub-basin and adjacent Carpentaria Basin since 2021. Considering the intentions to scale the Beetaloo up to potentially 1,200 wells, APA must demonstrate effective due diligence to ensure its key partners can be trusted to properly manage and minimise environmental and heritage impacts.

A recent investigation published by the Guardian also found “serious concerns among traditional owners and bureaucrats about the lobbying activities of Empire Energy, Good Advice and several members of the NLC’s full council, who were employed as advisers by the consulting firm.”

Considering the serious nature of these allegations, it is reasonable for members to request that APA disclose details of its own due diligence into Beetaloo Energy’s consultations with First Nations Groups in the project area.

Political associations
APA’s Supplier Code of Conduct makes clear “we do not tolerate inappropriate political affiliations” and “we respect the democratic political process and the roles and contributions of all political parties.”

As such, members are deeply concerned regarding QUT Professor Daniel Angus’ allegations that the gas advocacy group ‘Australians for Natural Gas,' set up by Joel Riddle during his tenure as Tamboran CEO, has engaged in “textbook astroturfing.” This group has now been referred to the ACCC over its allegedly misleading claims. Members are also concerned over Mr Riddle’s reported refusals to appear before a Senate parliamentary committee in 2022. Whilst Mr Riddle stepped down as CEO and MD on 28 July 2025, he was in the role throughout the period in which APA signed agreements with Tamboran.

Separately, members are also concerned that Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, who the Australian government has sanctioned in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has a substantial beneficial interest in Tamboran’s project partner, Falcon Oil and Gas.

Health impacts
APA states that it prioritises the health, safety and wellbeing of the communities in which it operates.

Considering the substantial body of work highlighting the health impacts of oil and gas development on local communities, particularly the method of hydraulic fracturing which is being used in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, members seek further disclosure regarding how APA ensures its partners manage these risks.

Members value APA’s commitment to transparency and operating ethically. Given the aforementioned concerning issues related to APA’s partners operating in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, members request that APA produce a report highlighting the due diligence it has completed on these key partners to ensure alignment with the company's existing policies and code of conduct.

We encourage members to vote in favour of Resolution 7(d).