A group of high-profile Fremantle Dockers members and supporters has joined the demands to end fossil fuel sponsorship of sporting clubs, calling on their team to cut its ties with oil and gas giant Woodside.
The group, including former Dockers player Dale Kickett, author Tim Winton and former WA Premier Carmen Lawrence, said Woodside did not align with the team's values.
In a letter to the Dockers' board, the group outlined its concerns about climate change, particularly in light of the company's decision to press ahead with its Scarborough gas development, which it claims is "the largest fossil fuel project to be built in Australia in a decade".
"Despite claims it is trying to decarbonise, Woodside has doubled down on fossil fuels in the last year; purchasing BHP's oil and gas assets and becoming one of the top ten largest fossil fuel companies in the world," the letter read.
"We should not allow our club's good name to be used by a corporation to enhance its reputation when its core activities are so clearly threatening our planet."
It comes in the same week members of Australia's national women's netball team announced they would not wear uniforms featuring logos from their sponsor, mining giant Hancock Prospecting.
Time is right to review deal: Lawrence
Former premier Carmen Lawrence said it was time for the club to look at the deal in the wake of Cricket Australia ending its sponsorship with Alinta Energy.
"It's gathering momentum I think, and it's a good time for the Dockers to reconsider the Woodside association," she said.
Dr Lawrence, who was the club's inaugural number-one ticket holder, said Woodside's aim of zero emissions by 2022 "doesn't stack up".
"Anyone who's looked at it will tell you ... that isn't likely," she said.
"The ACCC is now examining some of these claims companies are making for misleading advertising. So I await with interest to see what they make of Woodside's claims.
"The expansion of Scarborough alone will simply blow our budget in terms of reducing carbon emissions."
She said in addition to climate concerns, she was also worried about the impact the company's emissions were having on ancient rock art in the Kimberley.
"That's a great tragedy and we're destroying a part of our heritage," she said.
Woodside contract 'worth millions': Alcock
Dockers president Dale Alcock said players had expressed their concerns and discussed the issue with the club's executive, but there were no plans to terminate the Woodside agreement.
"I wasn't party to that discussion, but it's happened with the executive of the Fremantle Football Club, to really run through what our scenario is with Woodside and where we are with our obligations there," Mr Alcock told ABC Radio Perth.
He said the Woodside sponsorship was worth "millions of dollars", although he would not be drawn on an exact figure, and there were no plans to terminate the arrangement.
"We are committed to Woodside until our current contract runs out at the end of 2023 and we are committed to that as Woodside are ... and we're obligated to deliver on that," he told ABC Radio Perth.
However, he said the club respected the views of supporters and players.
"We certainly acknowledge and understand that climate change, sustainability — they're key social issues for our members and stakeholders and the wider community," he said.
"We respect and value the comments that are being put."
He said Woodside had stuck with the club during good times and bad, on-field and off-field, including throughout the COVID pandemic.
But he added Woodside's contract would be reviewed before its expiry, which was a "normal process".
Woodside touts 'shared values' with Dockers
Woodside said in a statement it valued its partnership with the Dockers and was aiming to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
"Our sponsorship of the Dockers has extended beyond on-field sponsorship into areas where both organisations hold shared values and commitments to make a positive contribution, including through Woodside's role as Indigenous Program Partner," a spokesperson for the company said.
But the group of Dockers members and supporters said the team's continued association with Woodside was damaging.
"Fremantle Football Club does not deserve to have its reputation tarnished by its continued association with a company like Woodside," it said in the letter.
"We call on the board to end the Woodside sponsorship arrangement as soon as possible."
Sponsorship a matter for clubs: Premier
Premier Mark McGowan said it was up to sporting clubs to manage their sponsorships.
"Obviously these days they don't' accept sponsorship from tobacco companies and organisations like that which I agree with," Mr McGowan said.
"As to other organisations they get it from, that is a matter for them.
"I just say to the players, sponsorship is important for the club's success and also for their incomes so if you don't have sponsorship then your incomes go down."
He also described Western Australia as a "mining state", which contributed to a large part of Australia's success.
