Strengthening democracy

There are strong links between climate and environmental action and a robust democracy. To get the best environmental outcomes, we need broad participation in decision-making, and strong environmental laws, transparency and access to information, and to ensure that government decisions are not influenced by private interests.

Reducing industry influence

Donations, sponsored dinners, events and invitations to sporting events, and offers of post-parliamentary jobs in the fossil fuel sector can have a significant influence over the decisions made by politicians. The disproportionate influence of the fossil fuel sector goes a long way to explain Australia’s record of stalled climate action and approval of destructive projects.

Cleaning up politics is essential to ensure that decisions about how we manage the environment are evidence-based and made in the public interest, not the interests of donors.

What’s been happening?

Transparency International released its 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index
Members can watch the conversation with Marian Wilkinson on her Quarterly Essay, Woodside v The Planet, for insights into the North West Shelf and Browse projects and the influenced Woodside continues to have over State and Federal governments
The Federal government has introduced amendments to the Freedom of Information Act that experts say increase secrecy and undo transparency gains. A Senate inquiry into the bill will explore those concerns. Members can support the Centre for Public Integrity’s campaign to push back against the proposed changes and call for stronger transparency.
The chair of the NT EPA failed to disclose that he had a paid role with the lobbying firm representing INPEX, co-owner of a plant leaking methane for 20 years, while regulating the facility
The NT government has introduced a third party lobbyist register, but excluded in-house lobbyists. The government also declined to require Ministers to publish their diaries
The government and Coalition brokered a deal on electoral reforms, allowing the Bill to pass the Senate despite cross-bench concerns about the impacts on minor parties and independents. The amendments raise the donation disclosure threshold to $5,000 (from $1,000), raise the individual donations cap to $50,000 (up from $20,000), and allow affiliate membership fees up to $250,000 (up from $20,000). Charities are concerned that the new laws will restrict their ability to engage in election campaigns.
The SA parliament has passed similar donations reforms capping political donations and election spending, and increasing public funding for campaigns (see the ADN and Australia Institute analysis)
The Federal parliament has passed laws to establish an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission to address misconduct by politicians, staff and press gallery journalists
The Stronger Charities Alliance released draft legislation to strengthen the rights of charities to undertake advocacy work

What’s coming up?

1 October 2025 – submissions to Senate inquiry into FOI Amendments

What is the AEGN doing?

Lobbying relevant Ministers for amendments to ensure charities’ rights to advocate are protected
Keeping members updated on any proposed changes to political donation and electoral spending laws and misinformation and disinformation reforms
Profiling civil society organisations working on democracy issues

What can AEGN members do?

Encourage your MP to voluntarily publish details of donations, sponsored pass holders, and meetings
Be transparent about any political donations or meetings you or organisations you work with have with MPs
Make ENGOs you work with aware of the resources available through the Commons Social Change Library

Current Clearinghouse projects:
- FOI Campaign (Centre for Public Integrity)
- Create a leadership revolution (Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia)
- Support the Commons Social Change Library

Whistleblowers & protest activity

Too often, people working in companies or government departments who witness unlawful conduct or environmentally damaging behaviour put themselves at serious risk if they disclose the conduct. The personal and professional cost of coming forward can mean that misconduct goes unchecked, governments are not held accountable, and the environment suffers.

Protections for whistleblowers, advocates and people engaging in protest activities improve transparency, accountability and public debate.

What’s been happening?

The Attorney-General’s Department is consulting on proposed new whistleblower laws that would establish a Whistleblower Ombudsman, strengthen protections and support whistleblowers to understand their rights and obligations
Greenpeace has applied under a new EU anti-SLAPP directive to recover $660M in costs it was ordered to pay proponents of the Dakota Access pipeline after a US court found it had incited protests over project. The case – currently being heard in the Netherlands – could set an important precedent around when actions by corporations against campaign organsiations are a misuse of the legal system.
A new report confirms that Australia has the highest rate of arrest for climate and environment protesters among countries studied
The Human Rights Law Centre released a report, Stop the SLAPP, highlighting the increased use of strategic litigation. The report recommends that the Australian government enact a Federal Human Rights Act, anti-SLAPP legislation, and ratify the Aarhus Convention
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers released a report calling on countries to take action against the use of SLAPPs and “improper pressures exerted by economic actors” on the judicial process
Climate Rights International released a report calling out governments using harsh, broad and vague criminal penalties to silence climate protestors
The Human Rights Law Centre released a new report outlining threats to protest rights around Australia, complementing the Declaration of the Right to Protest
The Human Rights Law Centre also released a guide for climate and environment whistleblowers
A joint parliamentary committee has recommended the government progress a national Human Rights Act, to consult with First Nations peoples on protecting rights to culture and self-determination, and to consider a right to a healthy environment
The UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders issued a position paper on protest activities

What’s coming up?

1 October 2025 – submissions on draft whistleblower protections (Cth)

What is the AEGN doing?

Keeping members informed of proposed legislative changes
Signing an open letter calling for anti-SLAPP legislation
Sharing resources about the Whistleblower Project
Hosting expert briefings on protest laws, whisteblowers, and attacks on public participation

What can AEGN members do?

Support initiatives that improve transparency and environmental data collection
Use the Nature Funding Framework (Lever 5 – Participation and Agency) to inform funding decisions and build capacity in organisations working on these issues
Consider endorsing the Declaration of the Right to Protest
Refer potential whistleblowers to the Whistleblower Project team for legal advice and support
Speak out against efforts to restrict protest activity (contact the Advocacy Manager for support to do this)
Contact the Advocacy Manager to discuss funding and collaboration options

Current Clearinghouse projects:
- Defend the Defenders (Greenpeace)
- Franklin Education Campaign (Rock Island Bend)
- Protect Protest in Australia (Australian Democracy Network and Human Rights Law Centre)

Background resources

The Commons Social Change Library
JSCEM interim report on electoral reforms
JSCEM final report
Who’s In the Room: Access and Influence in Australian Politics (Grattan Institute)
Legal Guide for Forest Protectors (EJA)
Declaration of Our Right to Protest (Human Rights Law Centre)
Confronting State Capture (Australian Democracy Network)
Fossil Fuel Money Distorting Democracy (ACF)
State repression of environmental protest and civil disobedience: a major threat to human rights and democracy (UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders)
Making Australia’s Whistleblowing Law Work: Draft design principles for a Whistleblower Protection Authority (Transparency International, HRLC, Griffith University Centre for Governance and Public Policy)
Protest in Peril (Human Rights Law Centre)
Climate and Environmental Whistleblowing: Information Guide (Human Rights Law Centre)
On Thin Ice: Disproportionate Responses to Climate Change Protesters in Democratic Countries (Climate Rights International)
Criminalisation and Repression of Climate and Environmental Protests (University of Bristol)
Democracy Agenda for the 48^th Parliament (The Australia Institute)

Organisations working on this issue

Useful government contacts

Become a member

It’s been exciting to see the growth in sophistication of how the AEGN operates. For the benefit of all.

Hayley Morris, Morris Family Foundation

AEGN

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Strengthening democracy

Reducing industry influence

Whistleblowers & protest activity

Background resources

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Meet our members

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Strengthening democracy

Reducing industry influence

Whistleblowers & protest activity

Background resources

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