Nuclear rejected for a climate independent in Kooyong
Congratulations to Dr Monique Ryan, the Member for Kooyong
The voters of Kooyong reelected the Independent candidate, Dr Monique Ryan, previously Director of Neurology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, with the aid of Independent and Greens preferences with a primary vote increase of 3.1%. Kooyong lost voters to Menzies and Chisholm, and gained nearly a quarter of new voters from conservative areas in Higgins, shifting the margin towards to the Liberals, which was reflected in the final swing of 1.6% to the Liberals.
The election period was marked by aggressive disinformation and anti-renewables campaigning, however voters chose progress on clean energy, and support for solar PV and household electrification over the LNP’s energy plan, which included seven completely taxpayer funded nuclear reactors which could have cost up to $600bn. The LNP had emphasised gas expansion, and the shift to nuclear would have capped renewables at 54%.
Kooyong Climate Scorecard information page
Voters deserve accurate information on the candidates’ climate policies.
The parties and candidates were rated across seven categories, with ratings summarised in a Candidate Scorecard. You can visit the Kooyong Scorecard information page here, with links to policy summaries and scoring rationale.
Vote Climate campaign in Kooyong
Climate action benefits our families, our community and our environment.
Kooyong Climate Change Alliance and Lighter Footprints led the Vote Climate campaign in Kooyong, supported by ACF Boroondara, Renew Australia for All, Asian Australians for Climate Solutions and Doctors for the Environment Australia.
Campaign Framing
The Vote Climate campaign was based round protecting the environment and lowering the cost of living through supporting solar and household electrification.
Campaign Events
Volunteers organised a Launch featuring ACF’s nuclear free campaign, Dave Sweeney, regular stalls, showed up at festivals and vigils, letter dropped the whole electorate with the scorecard, organised a large Candidate Forum at the Hawthorn Arts Centre, and handed out the climate scorecard at selected booths on pre-poll and polling day.
The electorate did indeed say Yes to Renewables and No to Nuclear!
Kooyong Candidates Forum
The following candidates attended, outlined their climate policies and answered questions. Watch the full presentation video here.
- Jackie Carter (Greens) – or watch here
- Clive Crosby (ALP) – or watch here
- Dr Monique Ryan (Independent) – or watch here
The forum was moderated by Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, CEO at Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia.
Amelia Hamer (Liberal) emailed at 1.08pm on the day of the forum saying she could not attend due to a “community event” which turned out to be an online phone bank with Angus Taylor.
- Check out Amelia Hamer’s scoring (Alex Currell, KCCA Scorecard Committee)
- Short on time? Check out our pdf with comparative quotes on key points
- Event blog – what did they say, how does it compare, quotes, links and more
- Why Vote Climate? Blog on Jenny Smithers’ presentation on the science basis for climate action, or watch her presentation on YouTube here.
- Facebook album with volunteer and event images, slides, comparative quotes, actual candidate words and expert links
- Online Agenda with links and next steps
- Bluesky thread or X/Twitter thread
A problem – our politicians are still approving new coal and gas
Even though Australia has world leading solar and wind resources, and massive potential for renewables-led exports, our government still is promoting gas expansion. Currently, including exports, Australia contributes a whopping 4.5% of global emissions, continuing to damage our climate.
- Labor is refusing to reveal 2035 climate targets, and the Liberals even the 2030 target – we should know what we are voting for.
- Australia should be a good global citizen and act on climate – let’s protect our Pacific neighbours.
Australia can’t afford to go backwards on climate and energy policy
- We need representatives who will support households and businesses going electric to save on energy bills and protect our health.
- Protecting forests and biodiversity is a powerful form of climate action, let’s fix our environment laws.
- We can build our economy becoming a clean energy superpower with green manufacturing, exports and future focused jobs.
Time is running out. We have to shift our politics!
Australia is vulnerable to increasing climate damage from fires, droughts and floods, according to the latest State of the Climate CSIRO report.
Moving to clean energy and protecting forests will lower costs, increase our resilience, and protect our future.
At this point, we have an opportunity to support accelerating renewables, green manufacturing, solar PV and household electrification, as well as continuing to challenge our government over expanding coal and gas and fossil exports.
Electrify everything to reduce household energy costs
Electric homes are more affordable and better for our health
Cost of living is high on everyone’s mind. Fully electric homes are less expensive to run. We need representatives who will prioritise household electrification for all.
- Subsidies for efficient electric appliances
- Support for community energy sharing and battery uptake
- Improved EV infrastructure nationally
- Help for renters to access solar and lower energy bills
Protecting biodiversity and forests is a powerful form of climate action
Climate change puts nature and biodiversity at risk
Australia’s nature laws are broken. Vote for representatives who will protect our land and water.
- Extreme weather events damage animal habitats and our environment
- Australia has one of the highest loss of species anywhere in the world
- Protecting forests is a very effective way to reduce emissions
- Our cities are warming, we need to enhance our green spaces
Let’s make the right technology choices
Nuclear is far too expensive, too slow and prolongs coal and gas
Australia has the world’s best natural resources in wind and sun. Renewable energy backed up with storage is the least expensive form of new energy.
- Renewables are at 40% now, and rising every day
- Nuclear is the most expensive form of energy, would double our energy bills, and would stop renewables in its tracks
- Nuclear doesn’t stack up financially and and would prolong the shift away from coal and gas
- No public money for nuclear – taxpayers are expected to pay the full cost of the seven reactors
- No new coal and gas approvals. These have continued under the Albanese government
Clean energy – transforming manufacturing and exports
Renewables and storage will reduce the cost of energy and increase jobs
Clean energy from the sun and wind with storage can deliver flexible power 24/7.
Harnessing our abundant energy and mineral resources means unlimited opportunity for Australia.
- Exporting green iron and green aluminium
- Processing critical minerals needed for the energy transition
- Low carbon manufacturing
- Exporting clean energy
- Skilled, future focused jobs
Vote Climate Campaigns really work!
In 2024, Lighter Footprints volunteers helped run the Boroondara Votes Climate campaign, which returned a majority climate-friendly Council, and we helped shift the vote in Kooyong, Higgins and Chisholm in 2022.
Find out more about the value of putting accurate information in the hands of voters on our Vote Climate campaign summaries page.
Climate was the top vote determining issue in 2022
In a stunning upset, with climate the top vote-determining issue according to Vote Compass and the ABC, the independent challenger Dr Monique Ryan displaced the Liberal candidate Josh Frydenberg.
Lighter Footprints supported local climate alliance KCCA in running a Vote Climate campaign. Climate action was framed around financial, economic and health benefits.
Kooyong 2024 redistribution
- AEC profile on the division of Kooyong with links
- Kooyong 2024 redistribution map
- Ben Raue’s analysis on the Victorian redistribution
- Antony Green’s analysis on the Victorian redistribution
Further Information
Climate action saves
- Climate action not only lowers the cost of living but protects our quality of life.
- Find out more on our climate and cost of living page
Health is the most important thing we have got
- Acting on climate will improve the health of our communities and those we love
- Find out more on our health and climate page
Why risk nuclear?
- Nuclear is far too slow, far too expensive and will drastically increase climate pollution
- Got a couple of minutes? You can scan through our nuclear information page or dive into the links
Say ‘Yes’ to clean energy
- The shift to abundant, safe sun and wind power is unstoppable
- Clean energy benefits all Australians. Find out more here.
Kooyong Climate Change Alliance
Lighter Footprints is a member of KCCA which works with allies to run Vote Climate campaigns at local, State and Federal elections.
Lighter Footprints
- Lighter Footprints blog on Vote Climate action on the streets – it’s time to get out there!
- Vote Climate 2022 Vote Climate campaign highlights blog
- More on our successful Vote Climate campaigns here
This page is authorised by Lighter Footprints Inc, Register Number A0095302A, Kew Victoria