CONCERNED voters from across Canberra converged at Zed Seselja’s Bunda St office today. They performed a colorful ‘fossil fuels circus’ to showcase the Canberra Senator’s ongoing support for coal and gas expansion, and highlight the link between political donations from the fossil fuel industry and inaction on climate change.

“We are here to show Senator Seselja that Canberrans think it’s a complete joke that he brazenly supports his party taking donations from coal and gas companies and handing the industry back billions of taxpayer dollars in the form of subsidies,” Canberra grandmother and circus participant, Annie Close said.

According to analysis by 350.org, fossil fuel companies have donated $3.7 million to the major political parties since the last federal election – including $2,365,250 to the Liberal Party, and $1,108,528 to Labour. In return, the Federal government will provide $7.7 billion in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry in the coming financial year.

Today’s fossil fuel circus, featuring clowns, a ringmaster, coal barons, colourful props and street theatre is just one of 40 Pollution Free Politics actions taking place across the country this week at the offices of federal politicians that, despite the need for urgent action on climate change, continue to support taking money from and giving money to the fossil fuel industry.

“For every dollar donated to the major parties over the past 3 years, the fossil fuel industry will receive over $2000 in return from our politicians this year,” explained Josh Creaser, 350 Canberra spokesperson.

“It makes no sense that Senator Seselja vehemently supports an industry that has little relevance to the Canberra economy whilst ignoring the significant threat climate change poses to the territory through more severe heat waves, droughts and bushfires.

“In the lead up to today’s actions Canberra residents have been calling on Seselja to sign the Pollution Free Politics Pledge, which calls on incumbents and candidates to ‘personally support, and call on all politicians and parties to support, a ban on donations from fossil fuel companies, and a ban on subsidies to fossil fuel companies. The Senator has turned down numerous requests to meet with the group to date, and has refused to sign.”

For a list of politicians that have supported the ban see – pollutionfreepolitics.com