Three advertisements have been banned from appearing in Brisbane airport because they were deemed “too political” – but it has emerged that similar material from energy giant Chevron and the Queensland government’s controversial mining-funded Reef Facts campaign was approved.



In the run-up to the G20 meeting in Brisbane this month, activist groups tried to place adverts inside the terminal, but were rebuffed by Ooh Media, the airport’s media buyer.

As Guardian Australia revealed on Sunday, environment and development groups led by the WWF attempted to place a billboard ad depicting a farmer calling for action on climate change, featuring the words: “Action on climate change is #onmyagenda, Dear G20 leaders please put it on yours.”

The climate change billboard depicting South Australian farmer David Bruer. Photograph: AP

The groups agreed to remove the words “Dear G20 leaders”, but Ooh Media still rejected the new advert.

On Tuesday it emerged that campaign group Transparency International had had its own billboard advertisement rejected for the same reasons – it was “too political”.

The advert placed by anti-corruption group Transparency International was also rejected by Brisbane airport’s media buyers. Photograph: Supplied

Reading “Dirty money not welcome here. G20, it’s time to: unmaskthecorrupt.com”, the billboard was designed to urge global leaders to support anti-corruption principles being discussed at the summit.

Again though, Brisbane rejected the advertisement, saying its policy did not allow billboards with a political intent.

@GuardianAus We don't accept any political ads, whether from parties, cause based organisations or individuals, regardless of issue/message. — Brisbane Airport (@BrisbaneAirport) November 2, 2014

A spokeswoman said the policy ruled out advertising, whether by political parties, groups or individuals, that was “focused on a particular policy issue that is the subject of political contention”. There was no value judgment made about the message, she said.

Also on Tuesday, civil society forum C20 was told that the airport would not carry its planned lightbox advertisements.

Four of the ads C20 tried to place at Brisbane airport. Photograph: Supplied

“We can talk to leaders as an official engagement group, but it seems we can’t talk to the public,” C20 spokesman John Lindsay told reporters.

But earlier this year the airport hosted adverts as part of a campaign by the Queensland government.

One of the controversial TV spots promoting the Queensland government’s Reef Facts website

The adverts pointed people to a government website which drew criticism for its selective use of statistics to imply that dredging, dumping and shipping were not having an adverse effect on the Great Barrier Reef.

But the campaign was not considered too political under the airport’s policy.

“Our judgment is that government advertising on government programs does not constitute advertising with a political intent,” a spokeswoman said.

Likewise, adverts promoting Chevron’s “We Agree” campaign were not deemed too political and were allowed to be placed in the airport.

Adverts in Chevron’s ‘We Agree’ campaign were approved by Brisbane airport. Photograph: Chevron

According to Business Spectator, Brisbane airport’s head of corporate relations, Rachel Crowley, acknowledged that Chevron’s ads had a political purpose – but did not row back on the bans on the WWF, Transparency International and C20 displays.

• This article was amended on 5 November 2014 to make it clear that the Queensland government’s “Reef Facts” campaign was not funded by the Queensland Resources Council. The QRC ran a separate advertisement which directed people to the Reef Facts website, but did not pay for of have any control over the contents of the website.

