Australian icebreaker crew member says she was told to delete anti-government post

Madeleine Habib wrote "On behalf of the penguins - we demand Climate Action Now!" on Facebook.

Madeleine Habib, a P&O Maritime employee, has sent a strong message to Australian parliament on board the country's only icebreaker. Source: Madeleine Habib / Facebook

A crew member on board Australia's Antarctic flagship, Aurora Australis, says she's been told to take down a social media post challenging the Federal Government's stance on coal mining. 

Madeleine Habib posted a photo to her Facebook on 10 February, standing on the ice-strengthened ship with a banner asking the prime minister a question: "Scomo - Coal or Ice?"

She captioned the photo: "Here on Australia's only icebreaker, I send a message to the Australian government. The choice is clear - end dependence on fossil fuels or face Climate Catastrophe."

The Aurora Australis is Australia’s Antarctic flagship, named after the southern hemisphere atmospheric phenomenon, and used for research and resupply. 

Her post has been shared more than 150 times on Facebook, and has been inundated with comments.

One comment showed a photo of a bushfire survivor standing in front of his fire-ravaged home with a similar message to Ms Habib's.

A comment on Madeleine Habib's public Facebook post. Source: Facebook

Ms Habib commented on the photo yesterday: "I have been instructed to remove this post. But I am not a Quiet Australian".

On Monday, she posted a photo of herself defending her "right to raise my voice against climate injustice".

"Here in Antarctica the impact of climate change is obvious," it read. 

"On behalf of the penguins - we demand Climate Action Now!"

The Australian Antarctic Division told SBS News Ms Habib is employed by P&O Maritime as crew on Aurora Australis. The ship is under contract to the federal government division.

"The division contacted P&O Maritime to advise them of a social media post from Ms Habib, featuring a banner erected on the ship," a statement read.

"No specific request was made."

SBS News has attempted to contact P&O Maritime for comment. 

P&O Maritime told The Guardian that it “encourages its employees to participate in causes that are important to them, we do ask employees to ensure that their personal activities do not conflict with their responsibilities to P&O Maritime Logistics, including using our assets for personal purposes.”