(ABC) Times Square Billboard Ads Shame Australia's Climate Change Policies

ABC News

Australian comedian Dan Ilic raised the money through a crowdfunding campaign. (AP:  Mary Altaffer)

Key Points Comic Dan Ilic raised $14,000 for the slot Scott Morrison will attend the COP26 climate summit next month Ilic told CNN: "We have to lead our leaders"

With Prime Minister Scott Morrison bound for Glasgow for next month's COP26 climate summit of world leaders, Australian comic Dan Ilic took the opportunity to highlight the federal government's contentious environmental policies.

In a post on crowdfunding website Indiegogo, Ilic, who refers to himself as an "investigative humourist",  asked fans for "financial support to do something silly".

Ilic originally planned to buy advertising space in the Scottish city during the conference hosted by the United Nations.

The images appear in Times Square for 10 minutes. (Supplied)

But when his crowdfunding campaign rocketed to $14,000, his budget suddenly allowed for a slightly higher-profile space: the biggest billboard in Times Square.

Images displayed during the 10-minute slot on Thursday (local time) included slogans such as "Cuddle a koala (Before we make them extinct)".

One ad referred to the PM as Coal-o-phile Dundee, while another contained an open letter to the world:

"Dear World, … yeah, look … sorry about our government bullsh**ing you about our emissions targets. Kind regards, People of Australia."

The federal government has not committed to net zero emissions by 2050, amid tensions between the Liberal and Nationals arms of the Coalition.

The stunt got plenty of traction on social media, with supporters like Australian actor Russell Crowe sharing the exploits.

They seek him there they seek him here @danilic @ARationalFear strike again !

Times Square NYC

* don’t know the fella in the video but kudos to him for capturing the footage. pic.twitter.com/jeVzLGLeWk

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) October 15, 2021

In an interview with CNN, Ilic criticised Mr Morrison for "running away from a crisis".

"This is what we have to do in this country, we have to drag our leaders to lead us," he said.

"We have to lead our leaders, because our leaders don’t work for us, they work for the fossil fuel companies." 

Links

• (ABC) Crowdfunded Billboards At World Climate Conference To Take Aim At The Australian Government
• ‘Sick of making jokes’: Dan Ilic on his campaign to shame Australia at COP26
• Aussie Raises $40K To Pay For 3 Huge Billboards Shaming Morrison’s Climate Response In Glasgow
• Australia is shaping up to be the villain of COP26 climate talks
• Australia's Scott Morrison doesn't deny pressuring UK to drop climate asks from trade deal
• Cop26: Women Must Be Heard On Climate, Say Rights Groups
• (CA National Observer) Meet The Young Climate Leaders Helping To Set The COP26 Agenda
• (AU The Diplomat) Australia’s Reluctant Climate Change Diplomacy