Josh Wilson, federal assistant minister for climate change and energy, joins peaceful campaign against fossil fuel company
Labor frontbencher Josh Wilson has become the latest public figure to cover up gas company Woodside Energy’s logo on their Fremantle Dockers jumper, as the team chases its first AFL premiership this weekend.
A photograph of Wilson – the Albanese government’s assistant minister for climate change and energy – wearing a Fremantle guernsey with regulation covering the logo of Australia’s biggest oil and gas company was published by The Australian on Tuesday.
Opponents of Woodside’s sponsorship of the Dockers have launched the Get Off My Chest campaign, supported by Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker, who covered up the logo on a Fremantle t-shirt ahead of a performance in Colorado last week.
Wilson told Guardian Australia the picture was taken from a family member’s social media account.
“I’ll be in Fremantle for the [grand final] and I’m looking forward to sharing the nerves and cheers in a sea of purple for what we all hope is a Wharfie Time.
“The photo in question is a family picture, and when I wear my Dockers gear I just want to show my support for Freo.
“This week is all about the opportunity to see the Dockers compete on the last Saturday in September, but it’s great that Australia is a place where people have the freedom to express their view and values through a range of creative and peaceful campaigns.”
Get Off My Chest campaigner Clare Lagan used spray paint to hide the Woodside logo on a mural of former Dockers players Michael Walters and Nat Fyfe outside the Fremantle markets earlier this month.
Lagan said the campaign had provided supporters with hundreds of patches since launching in May. Other supporters include Australian novelist Tim Winton and the independent senator David Pocock.
“Woodside has long been one of Australia’s most controversial companies and one of sport’s most controversial sponsors,” she said.
“We commend Kevin Parker and call on the Fremantle football club to end their partnership with Australia’s largest fossil fuel company.”
“The overwhelming public support for a gas export tax reflects the broad consensus that companies like Woodside are not paying their tax contribution for resources owned by the Australian people.
“Kevin Parker’s statement is clear: this is not something Freo fans can support.”
Conservation Council of WA spokesperson, Gerard Mazza, welcomed Parker’s move, linking it to the Browse to North West Shelf gas export project off the Western Australian coast.
Woodside calls Browse “Australia’s biggest undeveloped offshore gas resource”.
“WA is one of the world’s biggest producers of gas,” Mazza said. “We have more than enough gas to get us through the energy transition and no need for destructive new projects like Browse.”
A Woodside spokesperson said on Tuesday the company was proud of its sponsorship agreement with Fremantle, set to run until at least the end of 2027.
“We love our partnership of more than 15 years with the Fremantle football club and it’s great to see the success the club is having this year.
“We’re looking forward to continuing our work together.”
Fremantle will face the Sydney Swans in Saturday’s AFL grand final. The Dockers are on the hunt for the club’s first premiership since their inaugural season in 1995, in just their second grand final.