Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) | Hansard source

When a child walks into a classroom, joins a sporting club, visits a museum or takes part in a science program, parents should be able to trust that what they are receiving is education to protect them and help their learning and development, not to protect a multinational coal or gas company. This isn't a radical expectation. Frankly, we are stunned that the Labor government has made it out to be such. Children deserve education that is independent, that is evidence based and focused on helping them understand the world around them.

Right now, fossil fuel corporations are embedding themselves in the very places where children learn, where they play and where they grow. They are funding school programs. They are sponsoring children's sport. They are partnering with museums and science organisations. They are providing educational resources and programs that shape how young people understand climate change, energy and the future. What has been the Albanese government's response? To say: 'This is a matter for the states and territories. We're showing leadership. This is a matter for individual schools and teachers. This isn't our responsibility.' Well, we do not believe that parents see it that way. As a parent myself, I do not see it that way. Parents are asking a simple question: when my child is learning about the biggest challenge that their generation will face, climate change, who is providing that information and what interests do they have? That is an incredibly reasonable question, and this government should have a reasonable answer.

Of course this is not an attack on our wonderful teachers across this country and our early learning educators. Teachers are stretched. They are undervalued. They are doing extraordinary work under immense pressure. This is an attack on schools, sporting clubs, museums or community organisations. We are not attacking them. These organisations are underfunded and doing everything they can to give children opportunities. But the answer to underfunding cannot be to allow some of the world's biggest fossil fuel companies to buy influence in the places that our children and their parents trust.

Fossil fuel companies understand reputation. They understand public opinion, they understand PR and they know they are being slammed right now. They understand that their future depends not only on what they produce but whether communities continue to accept what they do and avoid uncomfortable questions about their role driving the climate crisis that our communities across this beautiful country are bearing the brunt of. They know their social licence is under threat.