The fossil fuel industry's increasing presence within Australian schools and educational settings has sparked heated debate, with critics accusing companies of "petro-grooming" children through sponsored programmes and partnerships. A report by climate advocacy group Comms Declare reveals that over 260 industry-backed initiatives are targeting young people, from early childhood centres to career pathway schemes, fuelling calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the sector's influence on vulnerable age groups.
The report highlights various forms of engagement, including educational programmes at institutions like the Queensland Museum, sponsored by Shell and its subsidiary Queensland Gas Company. These collaborations provide learning materials and professional development opportunities for teachers, but critics argue that they often downplay the role of large corporations in emissions while stressing individual actions to reduce carbon footprints. One striking example cited in the report is a STEM programme backed by a major fossil fuel company, which encouraged eight and nine-year-old pupils to construct models of offshore drilling activities using everyday food items.
The Comms Declare report also examines sports sponsorship programmes and community development grants, with some applicants reportedly asked how they would promote the sponsoring company. The organisation's founder, Belinda Noble, has stated that children deserve learning environments free from conflicted commercial influence, stressing that teaching about energy mix is important but should not be linked to companies with an "obvious bias".
The Greens party in Australia, backed by independent Senator David Pocock, is now advocating for a Senate inquiry to thoroughly examine the scale and impact of fossil fuel engagement with children. The party's resources spokesperson, Steph Hodgins-May, has accused fossil fuel companies of using these programmes to "build social licence", stating that "Get your dirty hands off our kids" is their message to the industry.
In response to the Comms Declare report, Australian Resources Minister Madeleine King defended industry sponsorships, particularly for sporting clubs. She highlighted the long-standing support resources companies have provided to Australian sport, from grassroots to elite levels, asserting that such sponsorships can be crucial for clubs in regional areas. King emphasised that "most Australians understand this" and that her government wishes for this support to continue.