Rosie interviews Dr Jeremy Walker of the University of Technology Sydney on his research, on the history of petroleum industry and fossil fuel investors early knowledge of global heating, systematic efforts to influence public opinion and government policy to defeat effective climate policy: that is, to reduce fossil fuel industry, extraction and combustion to zero, and replace all energy use with zero-combustion, zero emissions sources.  Key to this is an international network of ‘free market thinktanks’ assembled by neoliberal economists, activists, politicians, media organisations and big business funders. Since its 1981 registration, the Atlas Economic Research Foundation (Arlington VA) has fulfilled its mission to ‘litter the world with free market thinktanks’, expanding the global Atlas Network of neoliberal thinktanks to some 550 ‘partner organisations’ in 100 nations eight of which are in Australian and New Zealand (see Pic).

In this episode Dr Jeremy Walker discusses new research finding regarding  the history, definitions and methods of the Atlas Network of ostensibly ‘independent, non-profit’ public policy research institutes, which whilst generating vast quantities of legacy media outputs policy papers and social media content to influence public opinion, frame public debate (moving the ‘Overton window’) to defeat or advance government policies and constitutional reforms, has only recently been brought to light and named as a coherent global infrastructure- the Atlas Network.

Dr Walker then discusses Liberal opposition leader Peter Dutton’s flagship election campaign promises: to use public finances to build ‘clean and cheap’ nuclear power stations across the nation, and to scrap offshore windfarm projects in Port Stephens, Illawarra (NSW), the Southern Ocean (Vic) and Geographe Bay (WA), In each case these announcements were preceded by highly sophisticated, disinformation campaigns involving individuals and organisations long associated with Australian and US  Atlas thinktanks, and accompanied by a swarm of ostensibly ‘community based’ campaign websites, often with anonymous membership and always without declaring funding.

Pic 2: Atlas Network video celebrating Institute of Public Affairs ‘Repeal the Carbon Tax’ campaign (Youtube).

Pic 3: Tim Wilson, Ex- Liberal MP and candidate for Goldstein lead climate campaigner, Institute of Public Affairs, c. 2006-2013 (Youtube).

Research publications:

Walker, J (2023) Silencing the Voice: the fossil-fuelled Atlas Network’s campaign against constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australia, Cosmopolitan Civil Societies,15(2).

Walker, J (2022). Freedom to burn: mining propaganda, fossil capital and the Australian neoliberals. In Slobodian, Q & Plehwe, D (eds) Market Civilisations: Neoliberals East and South, Princeton University Press.

Walker, J (2020). More Heat than Life: the Tangled Roots of Ecology, Energy and Economics, Palgrave.

Australian Parliament:

17 December 2024. Submission (no. 297) to Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications, Offshore Wind Industry Consultation Process, Australian Parliament House. Dr Jeremy Walker. ‘Who says ‘offshore wind kills whales’ and why? Funded by Big Oil and Coal, the co-ordinated disinformation and astroturfing against offshore wind development is a trans-national project of the Atlas Network. 13 page submission, 4 supporting  research articles, right of reply by Adam Weinberg ( Atlas Network, Virginia USA), Dr Walker reply to Weinberg. https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/OffshoreWind/Submissions

4 Feb 2025. Australian Parliament. Speech by Senator David Shoebridge Advance and the Atlas Network. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBZa4ZGfJOE     Senate Hansard: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansards/28689/&sid=0000

11 Feb 2025. Australian Parliament . Speech by Senator Peter Whish-Wilson Exposing the Atlas Network. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHkwa_rrM4w     Senate Hansard: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansards/28693/&sid=0000

13 Feb 2025. Australian Parliament. Speech by Senator Peter Whish-Wilson. Offshore Wind Farm Disinformation & the Atlas Network. Calls for a new Senate inquiry into the Atlas Network in order to make recommendations regarding future anti-disinformation legislation. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32tqyZTBIQw   Senate Hansard: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansards/28695/&sid=0282

Select Media:

18 April 2025. Good Weekend (Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times). By Tim Elliott. ‘Copied the MAGA model’: The ‘grassroots’ lobby group funded by some of Australia’s richest.’ It claims to be a “grassroots” group promoting free speech and common-sense policy to ordinary Aussies. But behind Advance’s propaganda machine – and its deluge of disinformation – are links to the far right in the US. https://www.smh.com.au/national/copied-the-maga-model-the-grassroots-lobby-group-funded-by-some-of-australia-s-richest-20250408-p5lq6k.html

24 April 2025. ABC News. By Emily Clarke. ‘How Atlas Network amassed a global network of free market think tanks and reached into Australia and New Zealand.’ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-24/atlas-network-think-tanks-active-in-australia-and-new-zealand/104788732

2 July 2024. Washington Post. By Rachel Pannett. New Zealand, once a utopia for Trump-weary exiles, turns to the right. The populist National-led government is undoing many of Jacinda Ardern’s progressive initiatives, including gun control and environmental protections. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/02/new-zealand-america-moving-trump/

22 Dec 2023. Mata Reports -New Zealand Television.. By Mihingarangi Forbes.  Trick or Treaty? Indigenous rights, referendums and the Treaty of Waitangi. https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/22/trick-or-treaty-indigenous-rights-referendums-and-the-treaty-of-waitangi/

30 Oct 2023­­­­. ABC Radio National. Late Night Live. What is the Atlas Network? Dr Jeremy Walker interviewed by Philip Adams. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/latenightlive/atlas-network-jeremy-walker-think-tanks-/103041202