Fremantle council could be the first in WA to cut ties with fossil fuel companies and put an end to any big-dollar advertising across the renowned green-leaning city.
But it won’t do so before at least considering the effect this would have on local sports teams in the wake of ‘sportswashing’ furores that have dominated recent news headlines.
Several councillors, including mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge, have already backed a request to investigate if and how coal, oil and gas companies could be restricted from advertising at local venues and facilities such as Fremantle Oval.
The motion — which the committee supported 6-1 and was due to be voted on by the full council Wednesday night — also seeks to investigate restricting those companies from engaging in local sponsorships.
The investigation would also consider the implications this would have on sporting and community organisations.
PerthNow this week identified boundary fence advertising at Fremantle Oval for Woodside and BHP that would certainly come under scrutiny if the restrictions came into effect.
The Fremantle proposal comes on the back of a tumultuous time but strong public support for high-profile sports aligned with mining giant sponsors.
An exclusive online poll this week found almost unanimous support for Hancock Prospecting’s decision to withdraw its $15 million Netball Australia sponsorship deal after Australian Diamonds players refused to wear uniforms bearing the mining company’s logo on their uniforms.
As of Wednesday, October 26 more than 1100 people had said she did the right thing, compared to just 11 who disagreed with her eventual move.
A small group of prominent Fremantle Dockers supporters have publicly called for the club to end its partnership with major backer Woodside Energy, but both club and sponsor have committed to their deal until the end of 2023.
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins was also forced to defend his purported involvement — he says he wasn’t — in Alinta Gas not continuing its Cricket Australia sponsorship beyond 2023.
But Cummins’ moral objections mean he will not feature in ads for Alinta to be aired during the summer, despite starring alongside teammates last season.
Local mum Tahlia Stolarski, whose daughter is involved in a surf lifesaving program, has taken her own stance against fossil fuel advertising by colouring over the name of major sponsor Woodside Energy on their uniforms.
She explained at the City of Fremantle’s finance, policy, operations and legislation committee meeting on October 19 why she had a problem with her children being used as “walking billboards”.
“I didn’t want to target Surf Lifesaving WA or tell them what they should be doing with their sponsorships; it’s more about sending a message to Woodside to say that we know what you’re doing,” Ms Stolarski said.
“These are kids who don’t get a say in the matter but we do as their parents and their community, and we are not going to let our kids be walking billboards for these companies.
“With so much indisputable evidence in front of us today, of the threat these companies pose to humanity, you just wonder why we are even having to question the ethics of allowing them to slap their logo on the heads, backs and chests of our youngest generation.”
Ms Fitzhardinge encouraged the council to “lead the way” against allowing fossil fuel advertising and sponsorships.
“I’ve had the experience of my slightly older daughter asking me why she has to have Woodside on her nippers jumper because she feels really uncomfortable about that and we need to have those conversations,” Ms Fitzhardinge said.
“I think as a local government we won’t be able to control what happens on all of our beaches in all of our facilities but we can lead the way … and show that there other ways of achieving outcomes that don’t involve taking sponsorships from companies who we are deeply uncomfortable with.
“The recent decision by Perth Festival to end their relationship with Chevron I think is a great example that an organisation in the arts which relies heavily on funding … reckons they can make it without having a big oil and gas name attached to them and I think we should very much join them in that pursuit.”
Cr Adin Lang said the intent was for the council to show leadership on the transition to green energy.
“I’m very aware that this one action isn’t going to halt climate change; no single action is going to halt climate change, it’s about the transition,” Cr Lang said.
“Climate change can be minimised and halted across the globe as we transition away from fossil fuels and this action by the City of Fremantle is just one action of what a transition can look like.
“Allowing fossil majors to greenwash through sponsorship merely gives them a social license, drags out the transition further and gives them more relativity in our community the longer they are able to promote their message.”
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