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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/04/fossil-fuel-ads-approved-brisbane-airport-despite-political-intent
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fossil fuel ads approved by Brisbane airport despite political intent | Fossil fuel ads approved by Brisbane airport despite political intent |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three advertisements have been banned from appearing in Brisbane airport because they were deemed “too political” – but it has emerged that similar material from energy giant Chevron and the Queensland government’s controversial mining-funded Reef Facts campaign was approved. | Three advertisements have been banned from appearing in Brisbane airport because they were deemed “too political” – but it has emerged that similar material from energy giant Chevron and the Queensland government’s controversial mining-funded Reef Facts campaign was approved. |
| In the run-up to the G20 meeting in Brisbane this month, activist groups tried to place adverts inside the terminal, but were rebuffed by Ooh Media, the airport’s media buyer. | In the run-up to the G20 meeting in Brisbane this month, activist groups tried to place adverts inside the terminal, but were rebuffed by Ooh Media, the airport’s media buyer. |
| As Guardian Australia revealed on Sunday, environment and development groups led by the WWF attempted to place a billboard ad depicting a farmer calling for action on climate change, featuring the words: “Action on climate change is #onmyagenda, Dear G20 leaders please put it on yours.” | As Guardian Australia revealed on Sunday, environment and development groups led by the WWF attempted to place a billboard ad depicting a farmer calling for action on climate change, featuring the words: “Action on climate change is #onmyagenda, Dear G20 leaders please put it on yours.” |
| The groups agreed to remove the words “Dear G20 leaders”, but Ooh Media still rejected the new advert. | The groups agreed to remove the words “Dear G20 leaders”, but Ooh Media still rejected the new advert. |
| On Tuesday it emerged that campaign group Transparency International had had its own billboard advertisement rejected for the same reasons – it was “too political”. | On Tuesday it emerged that campaign group Transparency International had had its own billboard advertisement rejected for the same reasons – it was “too political”. |
| Reading “Dirty money not welcome here. G20, it’s time to: unmaskthecorrupt.com”, the billboard was designed to urge global leaders to support anti-corruption principles being discussed at the summit. | Reading “Dirty money not welcome here. G20, it’s time to: unmaskthecorrupt.com”, the billboard was designed to urge global leaders to support anti-corruption principles being discussed at the summit. |
| Again though, Brisbane rejected the advertisement, saying its policy did not allow billboards with a political intent. | Again though, Brisbane rejected the advertisement, saying its policy did not allow billboards with a political intent. |
| @GuardianAus We don't accept any political ads, whether from parties, cause based organisations or individuals, regardless of issue/message. | @GuardianAus We don't accept any political ads, whether from parties, cause based organisations or individuals, regardless of issue/message. |
| A spokeswoman said the policy ruled out advertising, whether by political parties, groups or individuals, that was “focused on a particular policy issue that is the subject of political contention”. There was no value judgment made about the message, she said. | A spokeswoman said the policy ruled out advertising, whether by political parties, groups or individuals, that was “focused on a particular policy issue that is the subject of political contention”. There was no value judgment made about the message, she said. |
| Also on Tuesday, civil society forum C20 was told that the airport would not carry its planned lightbox advertisements. | Also on Tuesday, civil society forum C20 was told that the airport would not carry its planned lightbox advertisements. |
| “We can talk to leaders as an official engagement group, but it seems we can’t talk to the public,” C20 spokesman John Lindsay told reporters. | “We can talk to leaders as an official engagement group, but it seems we can’t talk to the public,” C20 spokesman John Lindsay told reporters. |
| But earlier this year the airport hosted adverts as part of a campaign by the Queensland government. | |
| The adverts pointed people to a government website which drew criticism for its selective use of statistics to imply that dredging, dumping and shipping were not having an adverse effect on the Great Barrier Reef. | The adverts pointed people to a government website which drew criticism for its selective use of statistics to imply that dredging, dumping and shipping were not having an adverse effect on the Great Barrier Reef. |
| But the campaign was not considered too political under the airport’s policy. | But the campaign was not considered too political under the airport’s policy. |
| “Our judgment is that government advertising on government programs does not constitute advertising with a political intent,” a spokeswoman said. | “Our judgment is that government advertising on government programs does not constitute advertising with a political intent,” a spokeswoman said. |
| Likewise, adverts promoting Chevron’s “We Agree” campaign were not deemed too political and were allowed to be placed in the airport. | Likewise, adverts promoting Chevron’s “We Agree” campaign were not deemed too political and were allowed to be placed in the airport. |
| According to Business Spectator, Brisbane airport’s head of corporate relations, Rachel Crowley, acknowledged that Chevron’s ads had a political purpose – but did not row back on the bans on the WWF, Transparency International and C20 displays. | According to Business Spectator, Brisbane airport’s head of corporate relations, Rachel Crowley, acknowledged that Chevron’s ads had a political purpose – but did not row back on the bans on the WWF, Transparency International and C20 displays. |
| • This article was amended on 5 November 2014 to make it clear that the Queensland government’s “Reef Facts” campaign was not funded by the Queensland Resources Council. The QRC ran a separate advertisement which directed people to the Reef Facts website, but did not pay for of have any control over the contents of the website. |