In October last year, Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest was facing pressure from shareholders for more transparency over the use of Fortescue’s Bombardier 7500 private jet, including its emissions and running costs.
So we were amused to hear on Monday that the pressure, led by corporate governance group the Australian Shareholders Association, has done little to discourage the iron ore magnate from using the aircraft and splashing out on a new engine.
Last week, Forrest used the private jet on a trip to Libreville, the capital of the African nation of Gabon, CBD hears, where he was travelling on business as part of Fortescue’s ambitious plan to start shipping African iron ore by the end of the decade.
The trip was brought to our attention after an update to Twiggy’s aircraft registration on commercial flight tracking websites led some corners of the enthusiastic aviation community to believe Forrest had bought a new jet. Flight radar, for instance, lists Twiggy’s aircraft not as the Bombardier 7500 he snapped up in 2021, but the updated Bombardier Global 8000, which goes for north of $110 million.
But CBD hears there is no such new aircraft, just a new engine for the 7500. Fortescue declined to comment.
Of course, Twiggy’s African excursion is the sort of trip Fortescue would no doubt point to as one of the far-flung destinations the aircraft was acquired to reach. A quick search suggests a string of flight options averaging more than 60 hours return, spread over multiple carriers. Even then, our guess is that the first-class experience on some of those legs might leave a bit to be desired for the billionaire.
But it’s difficult to look past the heavy emissions associated with Twiggy’s travel, given his efforts over the years to position himself as Australia’s climate messiah.
According to our back-of-the-envelope estimates, a single leg of Twiggy’s Africa trip would have emitted in excess of 30 tonnes of CO₂, given a private jet uses roughly two tonnes of carbon dioxide per hour of travel.
Back in January, though, the private jet seemed to be far from Twiggy’s mind. He took his climate message to the annual billionaires’ fest in Davos, where he called on leaders to send “the strongest possible signal to governments” that they support a global transition from fossil fuels.
“The solutions already exist,” he said, according to The Australian Financial Review. “It’s time for action.”
Just don’t include the PJ!
Spotted: Alan Jones at Harris Farm
Imagine our surprise to hear former shock jock and accused sex offender Alan Jones surfaced last week at Harris Farm, doing his own shopping. Not least because he faces 27 charges against nine complainants for alleged indecent assault and sexual touching offences.
The former 2GB and Sky News broadcaster was seen picking his own vegetables at Harris Farm, Leichhardt, in silence on Monday last week, according to our CBD spy, who said the erstwhile shock jock was aided by a walking stick, and was in the company of another man. Jones did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. His lawyer, Bryan Wrench, declined to comment.
The last we heard from Jones’ camp was when his lawyers asked a court to hand over the email address of one of his accusers. That court matter was just the latest in a series of developments related to Jones’ case following his arrest in 2024.
Jones is set to fight the charges against him in a hearing expected to kick off in August and run for up to four months.
Matt Damon buys into a racehorse
The racetrack is a great leveller, as was demonstrated when not even having Mr Box Office Matt Damon as part of its ownership circle could get Are You Kidding into the placings in the Australian Derby.
The three-year-old gelding struggled into 11th place, 19 lengths behind winner Green Spaces in the Group 1 race at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday.
While the horse’s run was unremarkable, CBD was far more interested in who owns the horse with Damon, the star of the Bourne film franchise, Ocean’s Eleven, Air, The Talented Mr Ripley, Saving Private Ryan and Good Will Hunting, and his wife Luci.
It turns out Damon’s circle of racing enthusiast friends includes some familiar faces, including former Australian cricket captain Steve Smith, private jet operator Paul O’Brien and his fiancee, Nova FM’s Melbourne breakfast co-host Lauren Phillips, retired Geelong AFL player Tom Hawkins, former Neighbours actor Daniel MacPherson, and Chris Hemsworth’s personal trainer, Luke Zocchi.
While Damon was not at the track on Derby Day, he had been among the crowd at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day last month.
Are You Kidding is one of two thoroughbreds Damon has with trainers Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich. The other is named Dale, which he co-owns with O’Brien. Dale has notched three wins from 12 starts and is nominated for the Tamworth Cup Prelude in Tamworth on Friday.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
From our partners
Read the full article here
