Majors caught in climate change scandal

Australia's BHP Billiton and two other leading US energy companies operating in Australia are reportedly embroiled in a lobbying scandal aimed at defeating the landmark US climate change bill.

The trio, BHP Billiton, US Peabody Energy and Chevron Mining are members of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE).

A Washington staff member of a lobby firm working on behalf of ACCCE had admitted that an employee was behind 12 letters purportedly sent by grassroots leaders in coalmining district to members of Congress, urging them to vote against the US climate change bill, according to a report on the Sydney Morning Herald.

The bill, which was passed by the US House of Representatives in June, is designed to cut America's greenhouse gas pollution and promote clean energy.

The Democratic congressman Ed Markey, who co-sponsored the US climate change bill, announced an investigation into the forged letters calling them ''an appalling abuse'' and saying his committee would be examining the scope and extent of fraud in the lobbying campaign against the bill.

A spokesman for BHP Billiton in Australia declined to comment on the scandal when approached by the Australian press. However, ACCCE’s chief, Stephen Miller, told The New York Times his group was ''outraged'' by the actions of the lobbying firm, Bonner and Associates.

''Based on the information we have, it is clear than an employee of Bonner's firm failed to demonstrate the integrity we demand of all our contractors and subcontractors.''

The firm's boss, Jack Bonner, said it had fired the employee responsible for sending the letters. It has previously been criticised for dubious tactics.