Jeremy Walker from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) shines a light on the Atlas Network, an internationally coordinated body that has been working behind the scenes for many years to shape public opinion and government policies that favour corporate interests and profits. (We have been referring to the role of the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) played in the NO campaign during the Voice Referendum... the CIS is part of the ATLAS network...)

The Atlas Network and its secretive affiliates have been successful in promulgating a neo liberal approach that promotes free trade, deregulation and privatisation - the idea that small government is good and most aspects of our lives should be left to an unfettered free market. In particular, through the Atlas Network the fossil fuel industry has been successful in putting a brake on reforms to cut carbon emissions for decades, hence the climate emergency we find ourselves in today.

Much of its 'success' in capturing public opinion and government policy lies in its highly strategic self-interested approach, and the secret nature of its corporate affiliations. Certainly we have been manipulated on a grand scale, thus part of the solution is to bring it all into the light of day.

(NB: The Advance network funded the conservative vote in the Dunkley by-election...)

References

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

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

Tienhaara, K & Walker, J (6 Apr 2022). Lessons from Australia show CCUS is about capturing public opinion and public finances, not carbon, National Observer.