Labor and the Liberals just ganged up in our Parliament, shut down debate and rammed through legislation that gives them more money and power, and makes it harder for independents to fund themselves!
A federal election is approaching and Australia at a crossroads. As Bill said in Muriel’s wedding, “what a coincidence Diedre!” On one side is the opportunity for a cleaner, more sustainable future through greater political transparency and accountability and more renewable energy. On the other side remains a political system heavily influenced by the fossil fuel industry - a system where decisions are shaped by dark money and entrenched corporate interests. Gina Rhinehart is the biggest funder according to official figures. And behind the scenes are the dodgy likes of Advance Australia and the Atlas Foundation which spread lies, hate and misinformation. In his latest Tempests and Terawatts blog post, Michael Mazengarb dives deeply into this issue. His insights deserve our attention and action. I summarise them here.
Fossil Fuel Money: A Political Addiction
Despite mounting evidence of climate catastrophe, Australia’s major political parties continue to accept huge donations from fossil fuel companies. Labor and the Liberal-National Coalition (LNP) have a troubling dependence on funding from industries whose business models are fundamentally incompatible with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This month we’re tracking at 1.75!
And Peter Dutton's anti-climate eleciton push is underpinned by almost $3 million in disclosed funding from the fossil fuel industry. Undisclosed funding is even higher. The largest single fossil fuel donation came from Gina Rhinehart's family business Hancock Prospecting which donated $500,000 in the latest year that figures are available.
Recent Labor government decisions also highlight this contradiction. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek recently greenlit three new coal mines. These projects will add an estimated 1.2 billion tonnes of cumulative carbon emissions to the atmosphere - the equivalent of the annual emissions of 65 million Australian households. These approvals are not anomalies; they’re symptoms of a deeper problem. Political donations from fossil fuel giants grease the wheels of government, enabling these companies to continue profiting at the expense of Australia’s environment and future generations.
The Shadow of Dark Money
Beyond disclosed political donations lies an even more insidious threat: dark money. These are funds that influence politics without transparency. Donations routed through third-party organisations like Atlas and Advance Australia make it almost impossible to trace who’s pulling the strings. This lack of transparency erodes public trust and hinders progress on critical issues like climate change. The fossil fuel industry excels at leveraging dark money. It funds campaigns to discredit climate science, stalls renewable energy policies, and promotes misleading narratives about coal, gas, and oil. The public rarely sees the full extent of these efforts, but their impact is clear in Australia’s sluggish pace of emissions reduction and ongoing approvals for new fossil fuel projects.
Time to Demand Accountability
The solution is not just about shifting to renewable energy; it’s about removing the barriers that powerful interests have erected. Australians must demand stronger laws to improve transparency, and reduce the influence of corporate lobbying and political fund raising. Without these reforms, dark money will continue to undermine climate action.
The latest Tempests and Terawatts blog is definitely worth a read for a more detailed exploration of these themes and a call for systemic change. It lays out the connections between political and financial interests, urging us to confront the uncomfortable truth: as long as fossil fuel money flows into political coffers, our planet’s future remains at risk.
Awareness is the first step. Share what you’ve learned. Support independent candidates, journalism and advocacy groups that expose political corruption and climate inaction. Push for reforms that enforce transparency in political funding. Most importantly, make your voice heard - whether by contacting your local representatives, attending protests, or engaging in conversations with friends and family.
For the future of our kids and country, we must break the hold of dark money and fossil fuel interests on Australia's political system. Find out who your local progressive independent candidates are and support them. If we don't stand up and call this out, it will only get worse like it is in the US where the world's richest man has become defacto President.
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