Federal election 2022: Lobby groups target the Coalition on climate change
Lobby groups including climate activists have splashed more than $600,000 on Facebook election ads this month alone to try and secure votes. See the full list of who they are.
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The Morrison Government is being heavily targeted by climate action lobby groups on social media in the lead-up to the May 21 election, with big-spending campaigns waged by more than just the usual sources.
An analysis of election advertising on Facebook over the past 30 days shows lobby groups, unions, and community organisations have splashed more than $650,000 to spread messages before the federal poll, with ads ranging satire to traditional attack ads.
Seven of the top 16 biggest spending groups are promoting action against climate change, with most targeting Coalition policies.
The organisations range from youth groups and Greenpeace to satirists and an ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s that is calling on all political parties to stop gas and oil drilling near iconic Australian locations.
The Climate 200 lobby group, created by Simon Holmes à Court, racked up the highest election advertising bill of the climate groups, however, spending more than $120,000 on election ads in the 30-day period in addition to backing a handful of independents in seats held by high-profile Liberal MPs.
Other hot-button election issues uncovered in the analysis included calls for better quality, cheaper childcare, support for aged-care workers, lower prices for medicines, and funding for roads.
16 LOBBY GROUPS TARGETING THE FEDERAL ELECTION
1. Pharmacy Guild of Australia: $137,800+ in 30 days
Who are they: Employers’ organisation representing pharmacies.
What do they want: Cheaper prices for prescription medicines. The Guild is lobbying against a January price rise for medication on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Who are they targeting: The Coalition and any future government
2. Climate 200: $124,500+ in 30 days
Who are they: A lobby group convened by Simon Holmes à Court promoting climate action and backing independent candidates.
What do they want: A significant reduction in climate emissions by 2030, new focus on solar and wind energy production.
Who are they targeting: The Coalition, including a handful of high-profile Liberal MPs
3. Greenpeace Australia Pacific: $114,000+ in 30 days
Who are they: The local arm of a global environmental lobby group.
What do they want: Emission cuts and more renewable energy projects to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
Who are they targeting: The Coalition
4. Thrive by Five: $84,100+ in 30 days
Who are they: A campaigning arm of the Minderoo Foundation, founded by Nicola and Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest.
What do they want: Better quality early learning centres, better pay for educators, and more affordable childcare prices to assist workforce participation.
Who are they targeting: Federal and state governments
5. Australian Automobile Association: $56,300+ in 30 days
Who are they: An organisation representing Australia’s motoring clubs.
What do they want: Greater investment in roads and public transport.
Who are they targeting: The Coalition
6. Australian Unions: $41,100+ in 30 days
Who are they: The peak body for 46 affiliated worker unions.
What do they want: Free childcare services, a higher minimum wage, greater rights for women at work.
Who are they targeting: The Coalition
7. Solutions for Australia: $39,400+ in 30 days
Who are they: An arm of the Climate Action Network Australia.
What do they want: Reductions in pollution, new renewable energy projects, and new climate targets.
Who are they targeting: The Coalition
8. ABC Friends: $38,200+ in 30 days
Who are they: A community group seeking to protect the ABC.
What do they want: Greater funding for the ABC and no commercialisation.
Who are they targeting: The Coalition
9. Australian Conservation Foundation: $29,800+ in 30 days
Who are they: An environment group boasting 700,000 members
What do they want: Investments in renewable energy, a federal budget with more funding to tackle climate change.
Who are they targeting: All major parties
10. Minderoo Foundation: $25,300+ in 30 days
Who are they: A philanthropic organisation created by Nicola and Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest.
What do they want: New policies to make childcare more affordable, to address the gender pay gap and to address homelessness among older women.
Who are they targeting: All political parties
11. Ben & Jerry’s Australia: $20,500+ in 30 days
Who are they: An ice cream company owned by Unilever.
What do they want: An end to gas and oil drilling near Australia’s iconic natural icons.
Who are they targeting: Most major political parties, and the United Australia Party
12. It’s Not a Race: $17,200+ in 30 days
Who are they: A group of content creators satirising the Government and its MPs.
What do they want: Satirical ads criticising the Government to appear across social media during the election.
Who are they targeting: The Coalition
13. The Wilderness Society: $15,300+ in 30 days
Who are they: A lobby group for climate action.
What do they want: An end to new fossil fuel projects in Australia, including oil and gas drilling.
Who are they targeting: The Coalition
14. Advance Australia: $14,700+ in 30 days
Who are they: A conservative political lobby group.
What do they want: Double military spending, no vaccine mandates, and nuclear energy.
Who are they targeting: Labor and the Greens
15. Australian Youth Climate Coalition: $13,900+ in 30 days
Who are they: An independent youth organisation.
What do they want: More policies to address climate change and reduce emissions.
Who are they targeting: The Coalition specifically, but all major parties
16. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation: $13,700+ in 30 days
Who are they: The national union for nurses and midwives.
What do they want: Staff ratios in aged care and more action on the Royal Commission findings.
Who are they targeting: The Coalition
Source: Facebook, 11/3-9/4/2022
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