Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, , 3:12:15 to 3:16:12
A debate occurs regarding reports of fossil fuel companies influencing school curricula and extracurricular activities in industrial regions like the Hunter Valley.
Topics: Fossil fuels, Education, Climate change
Speakers: Hon Tim Ayres, Steph Hodgins-May, Mr Mike Kaiser, Varun Ghosh, Unknown Speaker
>> Thank you, Minister. Um, Minister, on the weekend it was reported that Muck Energy is saying the quiet part out loud in its annual reports. It's saying it's actively trying to influence curriculum and extracurricular activities. Are you aware of this?
>> I read that story with some interest. Um, Senator, and and I guess I guess my immediate reflection when I read that story was, you know, if if kids in school in the Hunter Valley are filling out a coloring in book that celebrates their mom or dad's work um or or their uncle or their auntie's um you know, a bit less sneering at that I reckon from the from from um some of our broad sheets. Um uh the the this is you know these are these are communities uh where industrial work whether it's in the new economy or >> would you say the same if they worked in
tobacco or asbestos >> that's
>> well well I guess I don't see an equivalency there um Senator um these are these are these are literally the
biggest threat facing these young people
>> these are proud workingclass people proud working communities uh and and I don't find
>> you don't find it offensive to have these fossil fuel interests who are who are multinational often multinational corporations purely profit driven >> brainwashing our children being in schools and educational facilities >> you know quite often in these when they are purely profit driven like this isn't coming from a place of care and goodwill for the next generation
>> you know we're talking about the work that people's moms Moms and dads do.
>> We are talking about an industry that is ruining these young people's lives. Minister,
>> I don't think we advance the cause of of more clean energy generation by denigrating the work of the people >> corporations, the people. >> Senator, don't forget the people.
>> I'm not forgetting the people and they're the ones who need a just transition. >> And that's my immediate reflection on
that. That's my immediate reflection on that. I saw that as looking down on
>> Um maybe to the department as well. Um last question. Yeah. Um to the department. Are you worried about um this concerted effort by the industry to be basically infiltrating our educational facilities um influencing kids as young as 6 months old? Do you think that there's this has ongoing implications for our ability to combat the the climate crisis?
Senator, I don't think that's a matter that we would offer an opinion on. I mean, we are interested as a department in information integrity and are playing an increasing role in that space as we seek to get quality information out there, but um >> you know, the educational efforts of various industries is not something that we'd offer a view on.
>> I mean, these aren't people selling vapes to kids like the way that you've
you've inferred. These are these are is Mac Energy running the curriculum.
>> Proud of their work driving driving big trucks, you know, um handling handling
engineering work. >> If it was a tobacco,
>> handling engineering work on
>> or it was an asbestos corporation or a gambling corporation, would that you have the same response?
>> I I just say those different I don't need lecture about asbestous. >> Like honestly, I've spent more time.
Let's not talk over the top of each
other with with workers who have worked for asbestous companies. suffering from
all senators, once again, please don't talk over the top of each other. We'll go question and answer. Uh I think if I'm gauging that correctly, we've probably reached the fruitful end of that exchange. Um I'm going to move the call to Senator Ananda Rajah.