Fossil Fuel Companies Fund Over 260 Education and Sports Programs in Australia, Report Finds
A new report by climate advocacy group Comms Declare has identified widespread fossil fuel industry sponsorship of Australian children's education and sports programs, prompting calls for a parliamentary inquiry.
Report Findings
The report estimates that mining companies spent over $50 million on six of these programs, suggesting total expenditures across youth and educational institutions are significantly higher. Companies named include Santos, Shell, Chevron, and BHP.
Programs cited include:
- Branding deals such as the Woodside Nippers program in Western Australia
- Long-term partnerships, including the Queensland Museum's climate education program supported by Shell QGC
- Multi-day camps, mining site tours, and teacher training courses
- A school's STEM program sponsored by a major fossil fuel company, where students aged 8-9 built models of offshore drilling using food items
- Lesson plans provided by Oresome Resources, supported by the Queensland Resources Council, which describe solar power as "not reliable" and coal as providing "cheap, reliable electricity"
The report acknowledges that these programs provide jobs for young people in regional areas and support community organizations with funding needs.
Sponsorship Governance
The report identifies no dedicated oversight mechanisms for industry partnerships in childhood settings, few disclosure requirements for school sponsorships, and limited governance over industry engagement with children.
A 2020 review by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) of school banking programs found young children vulnerable to marketing, leading to the removal of some programs from schools.
Content Disputes
"Children may not recognize sponsored educational content as marketing, unlike television commercials." — Researchers cited in the report
Teaching materials and bias concerns:
- The report alleges that some teaching resources present climate impacts without emphasizing the role of fossil fuel production, framing climate change through adaptation, technology, or individual behavior.
- Woodside's Australian Science Project (WASP) materials focus on individual carbon footprints, according to the report, without highlighting that CO2 emissions primarily come from coal, oil, and gas use. Woodside stated it does not provide content for funded programs; content is the responsibility of funding recipients.
- The Queensland Resources Council stated that materials from Oresome Resources align with the Australian curriculum and are developed by educators.
Responses and Statements
"The coal oil and gas companies are profiteering [and] polluting, while simultaneously petro-grooming our kids." — Belinda Noble, Comms Declare founder
Belinda Noble said children should learn about energy mix but not from companies with bias.
"Children should go to school to get evidence-based education, not to be brainwashed by fossil fuel corporations seeking to build social licence." — Steph Hodgins-May, Greens spokesperson
Greens spokesperson Steph Hodgins-May called for a Senate inquiry before the winter parliamentary break.
Independent senator David Pocock compared the situation to tobacco companies not being allowed to teach about respiratory health, and advocated for proper school funding to avoid reliance on industry programs.
"Resources companies have long supported Australian sport... We are very fortunate to have so many resource companies in a position to sponsor Australian sport." — Madeleine King, Resources Minister
Resources Minister Madeleine King defended industry sponsorships of sports.
"Teaching more students about earth sciences and encouraging open and inquiring minds is essential to Australia's future." — Tania Constable, Minerals Council of Australia CEO
Comms Declare acknowledged that some programs provide valuable services to under-resourced communities but questioned whether transparency and accountability mechanisms are sufficient.