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Netball, cricket, and now the AFL.
The Fremantle Dockers have been urged to cut ties with major partner Woodside, with a group of high-profile supporters claiming it is no longer appropriate for the oil and gas giant to sponsor the club in the midst of a climate crisis.
On Wednesday morning, an open letter was addressed to Fremantle president Dale Alcock called for the Dockers to dump Woodside, one of Australia’s biggest exporter of natural gas, as its major sponsor.
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The letter was signed by former Western Australian premier Carmen Lawrence, popular author Tim Winton, former player and life member Dale Kickett, former football manager Gerard McNeill, former Woodside climate crisis adviser Alex Hillman and Nobel Prize-winning scientist Bill Hare.
“Climate change is already creating catastrophic and deadly conditions for communities here and overseas, alongside massive harm to natural systems that support our economy and wellbeing,” the letter read.
“We should not allow our club’s good name to be used by a corporation to enhance its reputation when its core activities are so clearly threatening our planet.
“As members and supporters, we are speaking out because we don’t think it is fair for these young men and women to run out with a fossil fuel company’s logo plastered on their jumpers any longer.”
Fremantle first partnered with Woodside in 2010, with the club recently extending its sponsorship contract with the fossil fuel company until the end of the 2023 season.
The Woodside logo is displayed on the Dockers’ guernsey as part of the agreement.
Woodside’s production of 9.1 million tonnes of greenhouse gases made the company Australia’s ninth-highest emitter for the 2020/21 financial year, according to the Clean Energy Regulator.
The open letter also referred to Woodside’s planned offshore gas project Scarborough, the largest fossil fuel project approved in Australia for a decade.
According to AAP, the development would produce 1.37 billion tonnes of CO2 – nearly three times the nation’s annual carbon pollution.
The letter accused Scarborough of undermining Australia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.
Fremantle president Alcock said the concerns raised in the letter would be considered by the club’s board.
“We understand and acknowledge climate change and sustainability are key social issues for our members, supporters, players, staff and the broader community,” Alcock said in a statement.
“With a fan base of more than 800,000 people, we respect and appreciate that there are many issues which our fans hold strong views about.
“As always, we will ensure these different points of view and perspectives continue to be heard and considered by our board and management.”
A Woodside spokesperson said the company was “proud to be part of the diverse communities in which we work”.
“Our sponsorship of the Dockers has extended beyond on-field sponsorship into areas where both organisations hold shared values and commitments to make a positive contribution, including through Woodside’s role as Indigenous program partner,” they said.
“We recognise the importance of our role in delivering mutual and sustainable social outcomes in the communities we are part of.”
Last year, a group of Australian athletes publicly signed up to The Cool Down, which called for more urgent action on climate change.
Dockers captain Nat Fyfe, defender Alex Pearce and retiring legend David Mundy were among the lengthy list of names.
Earlier this week, Australian captain Pat Cummins revealed he would not feature as an ambassador for Cricket Australia’s biggest financial backer, energy company Alinta Energy.
The 29-year-old confirmed he had spoken to CA about his ethical objections to the partnership and would not appear in the company’s advertising campaign this summer.
It comes after the Diamonds players reportedly made a public stand to distance the team from the sport’s new major sponsor and stakeholder Hancock Prospecting — the mining giant spearheaded by Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart.
Meanwhile, Australian Senator David Pocock has railed against oil and gas player Santos’ sponsorship of the Wallabies.
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