BHP freezes membership of Australian state mining lobby over Green Party campaign

BHP Group Ltd has suspended its membership of an Australian state mining lobby group that has campaigned against the Greens political party ahead of an election this month in coal-rich Queensland state.

Global miner South32 Ltd also said it had formally raised concerns with the group, the Queensland Resources Council, about campaigning aimed at a particular political party.

A third global miner, Anglo American Plc, is reviewing its membership, a source familiar with the matter said, seeking anonymity in the absence of authorisation to speak on the matter.

In a statement, BHP said it had expressed its opposition several times and formally requested withdrawal of the approach that targeted a political party before suspending its membership.