Monash University is facing criticism for its collaboration with Woodside Energy at their Italian campus. Staff members are objecting to the institution for hosting events funded by fossil fuel companies, expressing concerns about the lack of transparency in their partnership with Woodside.
In June 2024, Monash co-hosted a “climate change and energy transition” conference with Woodside at their Prato campus. The event was controversial, as the conference’s website invited speakers to discuss topics such as the role of climate activism and how it can affect emission reduction efforts. The speakers were also asked to explore how activism, lawfare, and cancel culture hinders the energy transition process.
Since 2019, Monash and Woodside have had an ongoing partnership that grants the company naming rights to one of the university’s buildings in Melbourne. The university is among other Australian institutions criticized for accepting funding and sponsorship from the country’s leading oil and gas companies.
Many staff members at Monash are opposed to this relationship. Lincoln Turner, a senior lecturer in the School of Physics and Astronomy, asserted that Woodside is not genuinely committed to transitioning to clean energy and instead continues to invest in oil and gas projects.
Woodside played a significant role in the Italian conference, with three employees on the organizing committee, including its head of partnerships. Noteworthy, Tim Wilson, a former Coalition MP and current member of parliament, served as a keynote speaker at the event.
Monash students and staff raised concerns about the removal of the conference’s website after the event. Turner called it “highly unusual” and claimed that the university has been struggling to obtain information about the partnership’s specifics.
Others, including Astrophysicist Simon Campbell, believe that the conference’s content has been deliberately hidden. The Stop Woodside Monash campaign, backed by the university’s student association and the National Tertiary Education Union, has expressed concerns about erosion in academic freedom and the university’s reputation in climate and environmental issues.
The partnership has been under review this year, according to a Monash spokesperson. Despite this, the university supports Woodside’s goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and its work in developing more sustainable energy sources.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/12/monash-staff-say-woodside-backed-climate-conference-highlights-concerns-about-energy-giant-partnership
