Energy Minister’s office attacked with ‘climate criminal’ slogans as government bids for COP31

Climate activists have vandalised an SA electoral office overnight in what the energy minister is calling an “immature stunt”.

The electoral office of Tom Koutsantonis on Henley Beach Rd has been vandalised. Picture: Supplied

Vandals have attacked a senior minister’s office overnight with “climate criminal” slogans in the same week the State Government launched its high-profile bid for the global COP31 climate change conference.

Two large black painted slogans were left on Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis’s Torrensville office side fence, with Mr Koutsantonis saying “the likes of Extinction Rebellion and their sympathisers continue to demonstrate their hypocrisy and cowardice”.

His comments related to both the graffiti and a demonstration by Extinction Rebellion environment campaigners at yesterday’s Australian Pipelines and Gas Association forum in Adelaide where Mr Koutsantonis was a keynote speaker.

Vandals tagged the property with the words “climate criminal” multiple times. Picture: Supplied

A spokesman for Mr Koutsantonis said the attack on his office had been reported to SA police, however, Extinction Rebellion group spokesperson Gemma Weedall said her group was not responsible.

“The fact that they would attack the energy minister who closed the last coal mine in South Australia, oversaw the end of coal-fired power generation and has overseen one of the most comprehensive renewable energy transition programs anywhere in the world shows they are not about ideology but immature stunts,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

Extinction Rebellion protesters previously photographed in the city. Picture: Supplied.

“Ironically, this is the true climate vandalism, since this puerile act will require fossil fuels to clean up,” he said.

Ms Weedall said the Extinction Rebellion group that has been previously responsible for high-profile protests across the state was not involved in the office graffiti attack.

“While we would love to see Minister Koutsantonis drop his support for the gas industry, we can’t claim responsibility for this one,” she said.

The attack on the Henley Beach Road property comes after Premier Peter Malinauskas announced the government wants to hold COP31 in Adelaide during 2026.

Greens MP Tammy Franks. Picture: Supplied

It is one of the largest global events scheduled for 2026 with the climate change conference expected to attract more than 30,000 visitors and generate more than $500m economic benefit to the state.

The COP summit – Conference of Parties – is a meeting of 197 nations and is the ultimate climate change decision-making body of the United Nations.

Mr Malinauskas’s announcement led to Greens MP Tammy Franks yesterday calling on SA to “walk the talk” by dropping oil and gas company Santos as an event sponsor in the lead up to a bid for the global COP31, a call rejected by the State Government.

Ms Franks is introducing a bill to the Upper House on Wednesday calling on the State Government to drop the Santos sponsorship of the Tour Down Under, but a government spokesman said the reason South Australia was leading the country in renewables was because the state has gas to support its use.

A climate change protest is expected on the steps of Parliament House on the same day.

Originally published as Energy Minister’s office attacked with ‘climate criminal’ slogans as government bids for COP31