Second billboard deemed too political by Brisbane Airport in lead-up to G20 summit

Updated

A global anti-corruption group says it has become the second organisation to have a billboard banned at Brisbane Airport for political reasons in the lead-up to this month's G20 meeting.

It was revealed on Monday Brisbane Airport Corporation had banned a billboard about climate change because it was "too political".

Transparency International's Maggie Murphy said her organisation also had a billboard banned at Brisbane Airport.

"Our message was quite simple," Ms Murphy said.

"That dirty money is not welcome here. This is simply a message for G20 governments and G20 leaders arriving in Brisbane to remind them of their obligations."

A Brisbane Airport spokeswoman confirmed the organisation rejected Transparency International's advertisement.

She said the banner was knocked back because the airport did not accept advertising that contained political content.

Ban a 'disappointment in healthy democracy'

Ms Murphy said the ban was concerning.

"I guess one of the most frustrating or sad results of this is it looks like it could be self censorship," she said.

"That for me is a big disappointment in a very healthy democracy."

The rejected climate change billboard had the backing of nine national and international conservation groups.

The billboard encouraged social media users to tweet G20 leaders about climate change and to make environmental talks a priority.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) chief Dermot O'Gorman said he was surprised and disappointed with the decision.

"The media company conveyed back to us that the words climate change were considered too political to use in the Brisbane Airport," he said.

He said the ad was redone for originally containing the words "G20 leaders".

An oOh! Media spokesperson said Brisbane Airport believed the revised advert was not in line with its policies.

The Brisbane Airport spokeswoman said it had rejected two advertisements in the lead up to the G20 summit meeting because of their political messages.

The ABC understood the airport wanted to remain politically non-partisan and did not want its assets or land associated with political messages.

It was also understood the airport did not accept campaign advertising from political parties.

Topics: advertising, world-politics, brisbane-4000, australia

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