A script for phoning your super fund to demand divestment.
Australian super funds are investing billions of their members’ dollars
into business entities supporting Israel’s illegal occupation. Call your
super fund to demand divestment today.
Introduce yourself:
“Hi there, my name is _ and I am a member of ___ super fund. I’m calling to lodge a formal complaint in regards to the fund’s investment practices.
Feel free to include any other short pieces of information about yourself. For
example:
“I’ve been a member of (fund’s name) for 10 years, and work as a nurse in the public healthcare system.”
Outline the reason for your call:
“I’m calling today as a member of the fund, to lodge a formal complaint regarding your investment practices that have unwittingly made me complicit in the human rights violations of Palestinians.
“I was distressed to learn that this fund is investing $xxxx in xx companies that have been identified on a UN database as being complicit with Israel’s illegal settlement regime.”
These investments are complicit in significant, egregious human rights violations including forced displacement and population transfer, as well as in breaches of international law and international humanitarian law.”
These investments are not only morally wrong, but they pose significant financial, reputational and ethical risk to the fund.
Because you are using my money to make these investments, you are making
unwitting members like myself complicit in war crimes, violations of international humanitarian law, and human rights violations.”
Make your ask
“I ask that you to immediately divest your portfolio of any companies listed by the United Nations, and to immediately take action to improve and enhance your ethical screens, to ensure you are not investing in companies complicit with war crimes or violations of international humanitarian law.”
Furthermore, I ask that you look into the concerns I have raised regarding the
financial, reputational and legal risks of these investments, and the breaches of ESG policy, and refer back to me with some explanations.”
“I will follow this phone call up with an email so that you have my ask in writing.”
“If the fund is unable to, at a bare minimum, meaningfully respond to my request including providing answers to my questions regard the fund’s investments and ESG policies, I will be escalating my complaint to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority and through other relevant channels.”
Issue your ultimatum
“I do not want to change my super fund, but I cannot, conscionably, be complicit in the oppression of the Palestinian people. If steps are not taken to divest from these complicit companies, I will be moving my super into a fund that aligns with my ethical and moral values.”
Drop us a line, and let us know how you went!
Annabel – Community Mobillisation Co-ordinator
[email protected]
Molly – Campaigns and Membership Lead
[email protected]