60 Reasons to Protest: Reason #1 – Corruption and State Capture
When BFPCA started in 2020, we intuitively knew that something was wrong – more than just the noise. We came to the realisation that the excessive noise pollution was a symptom of something deeper and more systemic. When we suggested that corrupt conduct may be at play, many suggested we shouldn’t be using the “C” word. Well, here we are, and now there is evidence.
What is corrupt conduct?
The National Anti-Corruption Commission will begin operations on 1 July 2023. It explains what constitutes corrupt conduct.
1. Breach of public trust
Airservices told everyone – and even recommended BAC to use “key talking points” – that turned out to be untrue. They made the community believe the new parallel runway and associated new flight path design would allow them to direct flights away from residential areas and over water. They knew this was a furphy and lie. They breached public trust, and continued their engagement theatre.
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2. Abuse of office as a public official
Airservices conveniently self-assessed the removal of SODPROPS (over water) from daytime operations as a minor change without any significant impact. They abused the powers of their office to make this assessment in favour of BAC and against the community.
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3. Cause a public official to behave dishonestly or in a biased way when they carry out their official duties
Airservices failed to meet ministerial conditions. They outsourced their obligations under the EPBC Act to the project’s proponent BAC. Not only does that constitute a bold conflict of interest, the “Noise Comparison Report” turns out to be false. It was written in a biased way to seek project approval without any hindrance or resistance from either the Minister or the community.
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State Capture
We also dealing with state capture:
“State capture is the exercise of power by private actors — through control over resources, threat of violence, or other forms of influence — to shape policies or implementation in service of their narrow interests”
(Source)
Today we are launching our new complaints campaign about the Department’s failure to provide adequate regulatory oversight. We ask you to send a formal complaint to the Department demanding they admit fault in allowing this corrupt conduct to occur. Further, your complaint demands that they fix their processes so corporations are no longer allowed to mark their own homework and destroy communities with no consequences.
Register for the BFPCA protest:
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