Taxpayer-funded research and development incentives topping $44 million for a single gas company have critics calling for the fossil fuel industry to be excluded like gambling and tobacco.
Designed to spur business innovation, the R&D tax offset scheme already explicitly bars "prospecting, exploring or drilling for minerals or petroleum".
Yet at least one gas producer, Beetaloo Energy Australia, has been attracting millions in tax incentives as it explores for gas to frack in the Northern Territory's Beetaloo Basin.
The company, formerly known as Empire Energy, announced $15.4 million in cash payments in April, marking the fourth time it had accessed the R&D scheme.
Lock the Gate and the Tax Justice Network Australia have been tracking money flowing to the gas producer through the R&D program for the past six years and say refunds now total $44.1 million.
