Your vote matters – makes sure it’s based on the facts!
Higgins is a key seat
- Higgins is very marginal at 2.6%, and a “key seat” according to the ABC and The Guardian.
- Redistribution lowered the margin from 3.7% to 2.6%
- Check out the electoral boundaries at the AEC map.
- Labor are investing in Higgins according to the SMH: “Liberal incumbent moderate Katie Allen concedes the unpopularity of Prime Minister Scott Morrison is likely to weigh against her”. Greens Sonya Semmens said voters said that they do not want an incumbent “who votes like Barnaby Joyce”.
Higgins Climate Candidate Scorecard
It shows that the choices are stark! Information is critical to an informed choice.
Summaries of candidates policies and scorecard rationale
The scorecard rates candidates on five key climate policy areas and two policies related to government integrity. We included integrity issues because of the clear link between failures in governance and failures in climate policy.
Each policy has been scored as GOOD, FAIR or POOR based on the candidates’ published policies.
We have made every effort to be objective and fair in our scoring. Published policies of each candidate/Party were surveyed and summaries were prepared. Policies were scored using simple and clear criteria, and you can find the full scoring rationale here.
In the Senate, vote for more than six!
Under the new Senate voting system, you must number six or more boxes if voting above the line (and 12 or more if voting below the line).
We are recommending that you number at least 13 boxes if you are voting above the line.
Why vote for more than six when voting above the line?
In each state, there are six seats, so quite commonly two go to Labor, two go to the Coalition and one goes to the Greens. Who wins that sixth seat is occasionally determined by a small number of votes, and yet that Senator could end up as part of the balance of power!
If you have just numbered six boxes above the line, and all your preferred candidates have been eliminated by the time the final place is decided, you will have no say over who wins that last place. More detailed Senate scoring explanation here.
It’s important to number the ‘less bad’ options as well as the good options. Tell your friends: ‘vote for more than six’!
Higgins voters want strong climate action
- 75% of voters in Higgins believe greater action on climate change will strengthen the Australian economy – Australia’s biggest climate poll – ACF
- 77% of voters in Higgins believe benefits that they receive from greater action on climate change outweigh any costs involved – Australia’s biggest climate poll – ACF
Does Katie Allen represent Higgins voters’ values?
You can check out Katie Allen MP’s voting record yourself here, including “consistently against” a fast transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, increasing investment in renewable energy, action on animal & plant extinctions, increasing workplace protections for women.
Is Australia really doing well on climate?
We could be investing clean exports and developing the industries of the future!
Check out our Climate Spin page for accurate information about what’s really going in with Australia’s Net Zero by 2050 plans.
It’s time for expanding solar, wind, exporting electrons and clean metals, not throwing more public money at large gas companies!
Climate action is good for the economy
- EY/WWF Clean Energy Exports report: 395,000 clean export jobs and $89 billion in new trade through to 2040 with stronger clean energy exports investment
- Ernst & Young report: a threefold jobs increase compared to spending on fossil fuel projects
- BCA: “Ambitious action to reduce emissions isn’t just critical for the environment, it is our path to a stronger and more competitive economy”, Jennifer Westacott, CEO, Business Council of Australia
Lighter Footprints
- Reason to Vote Climate blog: including economic, national security, health and preserving life on earth
Further Information
This scorecard was developed by members of the Victorian Climate Action Network/Kooyong Climate Change Alliance scorecard working group including Lighter Footprints, supported by GECAN.
Glen Eira Emergency Climate Action Network (GECAN)
GECAN is a non-partisan local climate action network in Melbourne’s south east and is supporting the Vote Climate campaign in Higgins.
Lighter Footprints
- Clean energy – let’s get on with it! Connect with the Higgins Votes Climate campaign here
- May 5th: Find out the candidates’ vision for climate action! RSVP to the Higgins Candidates Forum here.
- 90 sec video: on the Higgins Vote Climate campaign!
This page is authorised by Lighter Footprints Inc, Register Number A0095302A, Kew Victoria