So far Australia’s response to the coronavirus has shown us what can be achieved when governments work together, people trust and act on the science and everyone does their part to stay safe.

With the focus now on the economic repair job, we need to ensure transparency and integrity are at the heart of decision making and public policy.

In March, the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison set-up the National Covid-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC) to advise and take charge of government economic policy during COVID.

According to the head of NCCC Nev Power, a former CEO of Fortescue Metals, the quickest way to repairing the economy is by utilizing cheap gas to boost manufacturing. Australia’s Energy Minister, Angus Taylor is also championing a ‘gas led’ recovery. This is seemingly at odds with many investors, business groups, the Reserve Bank and communities who want clean energy to be at the forefront of the economic plan. The calls by the NCCC come as there are record drops in demand and price for oil and gas which has led to many big gas projects being postponed or shelved.

As uncovered by 350.org, a leading environment organisation, and reported in the media, several of the NCCC commissioners have direct links to gas and oil companies.

This includes Nev Power who is a board member and major shareholder of oil and gas company Strike Energy; Catherine Tanner CEO of Energy Australia; and Andrew Liveris who is a director of Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest producer of oil and arguably the most profitable. As a result, there are continued calls for greater transparency of NCCC dealings and this has highlighted the lack of transparency and disclosure of conflict of interest that the NCCC is facing.

For example, research has shown that industry groups have made 16 requests to slash environmental or corporate regulation, 11 requests for tax cuts and financial concessions, and 13 instances of requests to fast-track project assessments. The strong background of these commissioners in the gas and oil industry raises important questions with regards to conflict of interest.

As our country discusses how we can build back better from the pandemic, our government must choose to act with transparency and integrity and develop policy proposals that put the interests of communities first and foremost.

By Georgie Bonacci and Clancy Moore