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?
The NSW government has released a Regional Communities Consultation Guide, outlining their approach to consulting with regional, rural and remote communities, including Aboriginal communities. The Regional Communities (Consultation Standards) Act 2024 requires compliance with the guide for listed consultations.
The ACT government has released a draft revised School Sponsorship Policy for comment. The new policy proposes adding fossil fuel companies to the list of prohibited sponsors (the current policy prevents sponsorship from companies engaged in banking, tobacco, alcohol or weapons sales, pornography, or anything illegal)
The SA government is consulting on a new Community Engagement Charter for how councils consult and engage with their communities
Transparency International released its 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, noting the impact of corruption on climate action. Australia’s index score rose slightly from the previous year – based largely on new financial disclosure laws – but remains historically low
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.
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.
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
Santos was prosecuted for an oil spill in 2022, following whistleblower reports of dolphin deaths caused by the spill, but fined only $10,000
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
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
