2025-03-04
ACT Greens education spokesperson Laura Nuttall will this week move to ban fossil fuel and gambling sponsorships from all ACT public schools.
“Corporations that are destroying our planet shouldn’t be allowed to buy social licence by sponsoring opportunities for young people,” said Miss Nuttall.
“Young people absolutely deserve to access great opportunities to learn, but corporations that cause harm don’t deserve this free pass to greenwash their reputation.
“Many of these corporations provide biased teaching resources which portray their industries in a positive light. There are teaching resources on energy created by the fossil fuel industry that omit and selectively present references to renewable energy and falsely claim there is a continuing need for fossil fuels.
“The ACT rightly bans the tobacco, alcohol, pornography and weapons industries from school sponsorships, but fossil fuels and gambling are still considered appropriate sponsors.
“It’s time to recognise the harm caused by these industries and get fossil fuels and gambling propaganda out of our local schools,” Miss Nuttall said.
A survey from February by Conservation Council ACT and Comms Declare found that 56% of Australian parents surveyed are opposed to fossil fuel sponsorships in schools.
The founder and President of Comms Declare, Belinda Noble, has been a vocal opponent of fossil fuel sponsorships.
"This is an exciting opportunity for the ACT to be the first Australian jurisdiction to draw a line in the sand and give students the gift of an education that prepares them for the clean energy future," Ms Noble said.