The multinational energy company knows you will be angry reading this – but it also knows nothing will change

The CEO of Chevron is sitting in a Perth hotel conference room, clearly unhappy. Why wouldn’t he be? He gets paid more than $20m a year and he finds himself today in front of a table of senators answering questions about the company’s lack of a contribution to Australia’s tax base. He normally doesn’t do media and, by the nature of his position, he is able to avoid public scrutiny, but today he is answering questions from the Australian Senate. He turns to the right and whispers something to his offsider before answering my question.

The treasurer’s review into the petroleum resource rent tax will give Chevron everything ​it wanted

Related: Petroleum resource rent tax: Scott Morrison rules out changes in budget

‘The world of resources in Australia will collapse if you dare make us pay any more tax,’ they will say

Related: Tax justice advocates urge Senate to push for fair take of oil and gas revenue

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