An evening of democracy
The Menzies Candidate Forum was an evening of real contrasts – with candidate statements varying from “We’ve already seen what 1.5 degrees looks like, Black Summer bushfires, forever floods and rising insurance premiums. What happens at two or three degrees?”, from Independent candidate Stella Yee, all the way to the suggestion that by rescinding bans, eschewing subsidies, the individual and the market would be free to act, “to vote with your own wallets” from the Libertarian candidate, Joshua Utoyo.
- You can watch the full presentation video here, with presentations from Gabriel Ng, Bill Pheasant, Joshua Utoyo and Stella Yee at these chapter points.
- Watch Prof David Koroly’s presentation here, with science overlays and quotes
- Check out the Menzies scorecard here, including policy and scoring documents
The forum was held onThursday 24th April at the Manningham Function Centre, having had to shift into the larger room that seats 200. Sally Moseby, Co-convenor for Menzies for Climate said “the hall was full, with many arriving in the hope of hearing the keynote speaker Prof David Koroly and, of course, each candidate’s position on the need for climate action at a federal government level. “The forum was a “big success.” Extra chairs were brought out, and still people stood at the back.
We are grateful for the opportunity to listen to distinguished scientist, Prof David Karoly.
David Karoly is a councillor with the Climate Council and renowned expert in the field of climate and climate variability. Sally Moseby said that David “poignantly and succinctly presented the case for climate action after detailing the current and future effects of climate change nationally and globally.”
Over 200 Menzies locals crowded into the Manningham Function Centre to listen to Bill Pheasant, Greens, Joshua Utoyo, Liberarian, Gabriel Ng for Labor and Stella Yee, Independent
Each of the four candidates – Stella Yee, a Menzies Independent, Labor’s Gabriel Ng, the Libertarian Joshua Utoyo, and the Greens candidate, Bill Pheasant – presented their cases for five minutes. They were then asked two prepared questions followed by questions from the audience on topics ranging from the role and impact of gas, subsidies, little or no tax paid by fossil fuel companies, to the preservation of our natural environment.
The incumbent, Keith Wolahan (Liberal Party) was unable to put forward his point of view on climate as he was not able to attend. However, Alex Currell from the KCCA Scorecard Committee had previously explained Liberal party policies and scoring in this brief video taken at the Kooyong Candidate Forum.
So many people worked together for weeks to organise and support the Menzies Climate Forum, allowing voters to listen to the candidates and learn about the importance of climate action
The forum was supported by Renew Australia for All, a new movement backed by social services, unions, faith communities, local and multicultural groups, environment organisations, and industry, all working to lower energy bills through household electrification and energy efficiency, powered by affordable renewable energy.
Renew Australia for All helped publicise and support the Menzies Candidate Forum, promoting the value of solar power and with a plan to extend the benefits of electrification right across the community
More about Menzies for Climate
Menzies for Climate is an alliance of non-partisan local climate groups and individuals who care about climate change, renewable energy and our natural environment. Menzies for Climate member groups include Warrandyte Climate Action Now, Eastern Climate Action Melbourne and Lighter Footprints.
Jeff Cranston, Co-convenor explained that Menzies for Climate’s main aim is to offer voters an informed vote, with accurate information on the climate policies of the parties and candidates so that they can consider the climate when they vote. You can check out a summary of the candidates policies here.
As the Deputy Convenor of Lighter Footprints, Lynn Frankes, explained “We are all volunteers. We do not advocate for any particular candidate but want to give Menzies voters clear and accurate information about where the candidates stand on climate.”
Introducing Prof David Karoly
Professor David Karoly is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Melbourne, having retired from CSIRO early in 2022. He is an internationally recognised expert on climate change science and climate variability.
David was Leader of the Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub in the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program, based in CSIRO, during 2018 to June 2021. During 2012-2017, he was a member of the Climate Change Authority, which provides advice to the Australian government on responding to climate change, including targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
David has been involved in the Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2001, 2007, 2014 and 2021 in several different roles. He was awarded the 2015 Royal Society of Victoria Medal for Scientific Excellence in Earth Sciences and elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2019.
From 2007 to February 2018, David Karoly was Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Melbourne and in the A.R.C. Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science. From 2003 to 2007, he held the Williams Chair in the School of Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma.
Jeff Cranston, Menzies for Climate Co-convenor introduces Professor David Karoly, distinguished climate scientist, contributor multiple IPCC reports, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
Prof David Karoly on why we need to act now!
“It is very likely that the 20 year period starting in 2023 will in fact be the first 20 year period exceeding the Paris Agreement target, and the next 18 years is almost locked in”
Prof David Karoly
CSIRO State of the Climate 2024: “Warming is observed across Australia in all months with both day- and night‑time temperatures increasing. This shift is accompanied by an increased number of extreme heat events across all months, including a greater frequency of very hot days in summer.”
Prof Karoly says it is unlikely that the next 20 years will not breach the 1.5°C redline, driven by increasing concentrations of CO2 and methane (the main component of ‘natural’ gas). We are likely to hit 2°C in the 2050s unless we take urgent action. Every increase in temperature greatly increases extreme weather impacts (See CSIRO State of the Climate 2024).
“We are likely to hit two degrees of global warming in the 2050s, unless urgent action is taken to limit global warming and to stop increases in greenhouse gases.”
Prof David Karoly
Carbon Brief calculates when the world would expect to exceed the 1.5C and 2C targets based on the latest results from the new CMIP6 climate models.
Candidates and audience listened attentively to Prof David Karoly’s challenging and critically important message about the urgency of action on the climate
Prof Karoly talked about the massive oscillations between weather that is too wet (massive growth) and then too dry (tinderbox conditions), driving disasters like the recent Los Angeles bushfires and the 2019-2020 Australian Black Summer.
“Australia is a landmass. Temperatures in Australia are going to be about 40% higher than the increase in global average temperatures. So that means that when we get to 1.5 degrees, you can do simple arithmetic in your head and we’ll be at 2.1 degrees of warming in Australia, substantially higher than now. And when we get to two degrees of global warming, will we be at 2.8 degrees in Australia.”
Prof David Karoly
Australia’s temperatures are warming above the global average. “Global heating is being caused mainly by the burning of fossil fuels and land clearing that has increased the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere by about 50% since the 18th century”
Australia is warming faster than global averages, particularly in the interior. Australian temperatures will be at 2.1°C when the global average will be 1.5°C – with devastating interior heatwaves, as well as wet weather disasters, like Cyclone Alfred, said Professor Karoly.
Despite some emissions reduction in Australia, primarily from the built out of renewables, we are still seeing accelerated climate damage, with very worrying implications for future generations. “The combination of drying and extreme temperatures means increases in extreme fire weather and unfortunately, ongoing increases in global temperatures mean that all of this experience of climate impacts we’ve had over the last 20 years will get worse and continue to increase in frequency and intensity. We need to act.”
The Summary for Policymakers from IPCC Sixth Assessment Report provides sobering reading, particularly when we consider the consequences for our children.
Fig SPM1 from Summary for Policymakers, IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, page 7.
Professor Karoly pointed to the urgency of shifting our energy generation away from fossil fuels We need much stronger actions, like panels on big shopping centre roofs or massive replanting. We also have to look at our massive fossil exports which are damaging our future.
“The dominant reason for the reductions in electricity emissions is not the changes in coal fired power stations to gas. It’s actually the increases in renewable energy sources from solar power and wind power around Australia, particularly in Victoria. But there are still plenty of opportunities on shopping centers, on factories, on warehouses to use urban locations for solar panels.”
Prof David Karoly
Professor Koroly said “we need much stronger emission reductions to meet that net zero target. We need to also increase our planting of trees, planting of vegetation. To capture carbon that’s already being emitted into the atmosphere.”
“Australian exports of coal and gas, fossil gas, are more than double our domestic emissions, and they make Australia the third largest exporter of fossil fuels. And that is Australia’s largest contribution to making global warming worse, and is supported by both the current government and the Liberal National Party coalition. They want to make climate change worse for you.”
Prof David Karoly
Climate Analytics – including exports Australia originates 4.5 per cent of gobal emissions
What is often forgotten in Australia is that, including exports, Australia originates a massive 4.5% of global emissions, with 80% of those emissions coming from our fossil fuel exports. https://climateanalytics.org/publications/australias-global-fossil-fuel-carbon-footprint
Candidate Presentations
Gabriel Ng – Labor Candidate
Gabriel Ng prefaced his opening statement by saying, “I’ve got young kids and I want my kids to live with a habitable planet”. He is proud to stand for the Labor Party which he asserted is taking real action on climate change, accepts the climate science and is committed to doing everything it can to reduce emissions, and ensure Australia plays its part in the global effort.
“We’re building more renewable energy projects than any government in Australian history. I think of windfarms like the Star of the Sea down in Gippsland. And we built enough renewable energy to power over half of Australian homes.”
Gabriel Ng, Labor Candidate for Menzies
He noted that Labor has legislated its target of 43% emissions reduction by 2030, is on track to meet that target, and is committed to net zero by 2050. He highlighted Labor’s target to achieve 82% renewable energy by 2030, having achieved 46% in the last quarter of 2024.
Gabriel Ng is the Labor candidate for Menzies. He emphasized Labor record on energy policy including support for batteries and electrification, but resisted the idea of no new coal and gas
He highlighted that Labor reinstated the Climate Change Authority to provide frank and fearless advice to government and noted that the Coalition has said it would abolish the authority.
“And, we’ve legislated to bring the Climate Change Authority back, that provides an independent, science-based climate change advice.”
Gabriel Ng, Labor Candidate for Menzies
Turning to households, Gabriel outlined Labor’s newly announced scheme to support the take up of home batteries and the low cost loan scheme to support households making energy efficiency upgrades.
“In terms of households, recently we’ve announced that, in the last few weeks, they will provide 30% discounts for solar home batteries. We’ve got one of the largest, uptake of rooftop solar in the world. 1 in 3 households have rooftop solar, but only 1 in 40 have home solar batteries. So we want to bridge that gap and make sure as many people as possible can rely on renewable energy.”
Gabriel Ng, Labor Candidate for Menzies
Finally, Gabriel discussed Labor’s desire to play a leadership role in our region, including the plan to host COP21 in 2026, along with our Pacific neighbours.
Bill Pheasant – Greens Candidate
Bill began his presentation by highlighting that we are heading towards a climate emergency, that we are well on our way to 2 degrees of warming and more which is already resulting in human and natural catastrophes.
“In Europe in 2022, there were 60,000 deaths due to the prolonged heatwave. In Australia, the fire season is longer, droughts are deeper, we have record flooding in Queensland, and a cyclone made landfall as far south as Brisbane. It’s having an effect on insurance prices that’s hitting everyone.”
Bill Pheasant, Greens Candidate for Menzies
He pointed out that the Greens have a detailed emissions reduction policy covering all aspects of our economy, not just energy and included a discussion of the important impact of stopping native forest logging.
Bill Pheasant is the Greens candidate for Menzies. The Greens support rapid climate action including generous subsidies for electrification, moving to clean energy very rapidly, protecting forests and expnading the tax base to fund educational health and social justice programs
“So I want to talk about emissions reductions. That’s one of the things that the Greens have a 60-page policy on that goes across each of the sectors, not just electricity. It looks at transport, agriculture, industry, waste, and also forests.”
Bill Pheasant, Greens Candidate for Menzies
Bill highlighted the rapid and significant growth of renewable energy in Australia including that, just 3 weeks ago, renewables managed to meet 75% of electricity demand for a period.
“Renewable energy is the least-cost source when paired with storage, and it’s the most flexible for the increasing needs of communities and businesses. So rolling out utility-scale batteries is going to be the one that’s going to save homeowners and renters.”
Bill Pheasant, Greens Candidate for Menzies
However, Bill noted that progress in reducing overall emissions is happening too slowly. He highlighted Labor’s continued approval of new coal and gas projects as a significant problem.
“We at the Greens suggest that with Labor approving 25 more coal and gas projects, they’re not acting fast enough. We are in a climate emergency, and we need that action to be so much faster.”
Bill Pheasant, Greens Candidate for Menzies
Joshua Utoyo – Libertarian Candidate
The Libertarian candidate, Joshua Utoyo gave a firebrand address steeped in the values of the Libertarian Party. He frequently repeated the mantra, no bans, no subsidies, people should be allowed to choose for themselves how they get their power and government is incapable of acting efficiently and effectively.
“The Libertarian Party opposes corporate welfare. The Libertarian Party opposes subsidies of all kinds to many businesses.”
Joshua Utoyo, Libertarian Candidate for Menzies
Joshua Utoyo is the Libertarian candidate for Menzies and highlighted no bans (including nuclear) and no subsidies, no help for any kind of energy, in order to free up the market
“Apart from opposing corporate welfare, libertarians oppose upper class welfare, such as home battery subsidies as well as rooftop solar.”
Joshua Utoyo, Libertarian Candidate for Menzies
Joshua thinks that government, politicians and bureaucrats need to, “wake up to the net zero fantasy” and stop subjecting future generations to debt slavery.
“The reality is that Australia’s only 1% of global carbon emissions. China and the United States produce the majority of the world’s carbon emissions, and they’ve shown no indication of slowing down; rather, they speed up more and more. If you want to change global climate, you need to talk not to us, but to Xi Jinping or Donald Trump.”
Joshua Utoyo, Libertarian Candidate for Menzies
He thinks the market should decide which form of electricity generation is the least expensive and the government should not insert itself into the equation.
“The government is incapable of delivering on strong climate action, or any action it desires, in my opinion. You only have to look at Snowy 2.0. It was originally going to cost $2 billion, this has become $13 billion.”
Joshua Utoyo, Libertarian Candidate for Menzies
“There are South Korean companies and Japanese companies which can build nuclear power plants in 3 or 4 years. Meanwhile, our government can’t even build a bloody tunnel.”
Joshua Utoyo, Libertarian Candidate for Menzies
Stella Yee – Independent Candidate
Stella Yee began her presentation by talking about the environmental degradation she witnessed growing up and the work done by environmental champions like Bob Brown and David Attenborough. She lamented that children today grow up with anxiety about coral bleaching and species extinction.
“Back then, the logging and plywood industry dominated the local economy. Over time, vast rainforests were cleared and replaced with palm oil plantations. I still cannot think of my hometown without sadness over the loss of one of the world’s richest ecosystems to greed and profit. As a child, I saw firsthand what happens when the environment isn’t protected. Smoke constantly polluted the air we breathed from the burning of timber offcuts near my home. It affected our health and left a deep impression on me.”
Stella Yee, Independent Candidate for Menzies
She referred to the government’s controversial actions to protect salmon farming in Tasmania.
“How can we explain the federal government’s decision to back a foreign owned company, which hasn’t paid tax in years, to continue destructive salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour? This risks wiping out the ancient Maugean Skate.”
Stella Yee, Independent Candidate for Menzies
She went on to highlight the importance of urgent climate action.
Stella Yee is the Independent candidate for Menzies. Her energy policy incudes rapid climate action, no new coal and gas and strong support for forest protection and household electrification
“We’ve already seen what 1.5 degrees looks like: late summer bushfires, rampant floods and rising industrial insurance premiums. What happens at 2 or 3 degrees? We must act boldly and urgently.”
Stella Yee, Independent Candidate for Menzies
Stella supports emissions reduction of at least 42% by 2030 and net zero well before 2050. She wants to see legally binding carbon budgets. She advocates for 80% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% soon after. She opposes new fossil fuel projects.
Stella wants to see “real action” at the household level and is concerned that low income households and renters should not be left behind.
“I support Rewiring Australia’s plan to electrify 10 million homes over 14 years.”
Stella Yee, Independent Candidate for Menzies
Prepared Questions
Question One
Do you support the Energy Bill Savings Plan?
The candidates were asked the first Question on Notice – do you support Renew Australia for All’s $5bn Energy Bill Savings Plan?
Candidate forum quotes Question One selected quotes from candidates and Climate Scorecard scoring document
Gabriel Ng
“So in terms of supporting the vulnerable people, people in social housing: we’re rolling out $800 million to upgrade 100,000 social housing properties, with retrofits such as insulation and electrification of solar and batteries.”
Gabriel Ng, Labor Candidate for Menzies
Gabriel Ng talked about the Albanese Government’s support for electrification including support for 100,000 retrofits, EV charging, support for renters and low income and solar banks.
“Investing in the electric future is the over 30% discount for home batteries that I’ve referred to. There’s also 400 community batteries. So the benefits of solar batteries are shared across the community. And our energy savings program, which provides financial support to households, businesses and local governments to invest in renewable energy. And in terms of sharing the benefits fairly, we’re delivering support for renters and apartment dwellers, to make for the transition to renewables through our solar banks program.”
Gabriel Ng, Labor Candidate for Menzies
Bill Pheasant
Bill Pheasant talked about extensive Greens proposals: “The Greens plan has got quite a lot of elements to it about people on low incomes. There’s a renter’s right to install with no upfront cost to landlords. So it subsidizes the installation on the rental property, and it saves renters the average of almost $1,500 a year in energy bills.”
“That’s a $10 billion fund that would be invested through the Commonwealth Electricity Corporation. We have a getting solar into apartments and apartment dwellers energy upgrade fund. A lot of people on low incomes live in apartment blocks that don’t have the benefit of being able to install these themselves.”
Bill Pheasant, Greens Candidate for Menzies
Bill Pheasant said that the Greens have solar incentives for apartment blocks and “a grants and loan scheme to get homes and businesses to electrify and store their rooftop solar.”
“We’re really pleased to see that early in the campaign, the ALP adopted the Greens policy”
Bill Pheasant, Greens Candidate for Menzies
Bill also talked about 1000 community batteries, with electrification programs and increased storage saving on transmission costs.
Joshua Utoyo
Joshua Utoyo spoke briefly, reiterating Libertarian party principles of “no bans and no subsidies”.
“If I were elected member of Menzies, I would follow our party principles, being: no bans, no subsidies in the energy market – as I explained in my speech before.”
Joshua Utoyo, Libertarian Candidate for Menzies
Stella Yee
Stella Yee spoke positively about the Energy Bills Savings Bill Plan and Rewiring Australia’s electrification plan, Electrify Everything Loans Scheme (EELS).
“I welcome the fact that a whole bunch of people, community groups came together and said this is what they’d like to see, especially for renters and low income households. So I support it. I have looked at Rewiring Australia’s plan as well, and I think that one probably has more detail to it.”
Stella Lee, Independent Candidate for Menzies
The Menzies Candidate Forum allowed the audience to ask questions about energy and the environment – the concern for trees, energy innovation and energy equity was very clear
Question Two
No more coal and gas
Given that the IEA has said that to meet Net Zero by 2050 we can have no more coal and gas would you support this?
Bill Pheasant
Bill Pheasant said that the Greens would oppose new coal and gas, and stated Labor and Liberals are still supporting the expansion of coal and gas.
“Liberal and Labor both have some kind of commitment to meeting the net zero by 2050 target. But they are not abiding by that principle.
Basically, we’re at that limit.
Bill Pheasant, Greens Candidate for Menzies
Joshua Utoyo
Joshua empahisised competition and said that the Libertarians would take away the nuclear bans.
“I just sort of quickly touch on Libertarian Party policy again: no bans. So we already have nuclear power banned in Australia at both the federal and state levels, meaning that there is no competition in a free market. Even more bans, I think, will deprive the Australian people of the ability to choose.”
Joshua Utoyo, Libertarian Candidate for Menzies
Candidate forum quotes Question Two – selected quotes from candidates and Climate Scorecard scoring document
Stella Yee
Stella reiterated that we are in a climate emergency, hence there should be no new coal and gas.
“If we accept that we are in a climate emergency, then our actions should reflect that. Coal and gas use is contributing to more emissions and locking in greenhouse gases. So that is not, in a climate emergency, the kind of activity that we want to be doing. And, as the only woman on this panel, I’ll just say that there’s no such thing as being half pregnant.”
Stella Yee, Independent Candidate for Menzies
Gabriel Ng
Gabriel says Labor has not approved new coal and said that Australia needed gas as an important part of transition. He emphasised that Labor is building a lot of renewables.
“The labor government hasn’t approved any new coal projects since 2024. And, since, in terms of gas: I know that a lot of people here might disagree, but, I think that politics is the art of the possible. And if we’re not able to maintain a reliable source of energy, then we won’t be able to maintain the great benefits of the transition to renewable energy. We see gas as an important part of the transition.”
Gabriel Ng, Labor Candidate for Menzies
Audience Questions
The candidates responded with warmth, transparency and honesty. Some issues are universal, both the audience and candidates expressed concern about intergeneration equity, including housing market difficulties and the impacts of the crisis for young people
Question Three
Net Zero and back up plans
We were asked what is your back up plan if net zero causes black outs or wrecks the economy?
- Joshua Utoyo said again no bans no subsidies.
- StellaYee explained that electrification of housing offers savings of $3000 or more per year and that electrification increases household and community resilience.
- Gabriel Ng said that Australia is well on the way with electrification, with all its benefits. “As I said, we’re committed to renewables, which are the cheapest form of energy. So CSIRO, Australia’s independent scientists, have said, that in terms of power generation and for consumers it will be half the cost of nuclear. Our backup is as I referred to for gas, but we also have batteries.”
- Bill Pheasant said that existing generation capacity is “growing hugely in terms of solar, storage and wind. The unreliability of coal plants is the major problem driving up prices and often is the cause of the blackouts”.
Question Four
A question on uranium, nuclear and nuclear waste
- Stella Yee asked why should we subsidise vastly expensive nuclear when we have affordable, clean renewables?
- Joshua Utoyo said the solar industry has no plan for recycling and nuclear has clear containment of waste. (Lighter Footprints notes that there are six businesses working on solar recycling and the long term storage of nuclear waste is a global problem)
There was keen interest from the audience in asking questions to the candidates
Question Five
Increasing taxes on fossil companies including PRRT
- Gabriel Ng said he would “take it under consideration”
- Bill Pheasant said that Greens advocated for fairly taxing fossil corporations and increasing the tax base to help increase community services.
- Joshua Utoyo said that Libertarians are all about empowering individuals and states including on mining – a sort of race to the top.
- Stella Yee has wondered why are things set up like this in Australia? Why give away our gas for free!
Candidate forum quotes Question Five – selected quotes from candidates and Climate Scorecard scoring document
Question Six
What would you do about urban tree loss?
Candidates were asked what about canopy tree loss, East West Link 40,000 trees gone
- Bill Pheasant pointed out that logging is still going on in Victoria (as fire breaks) and that the EPBC act needs strengthening not torpedoing.
- Joshua Utoyo said we need to build houses, which might mean cutting down some trees.
- Stella Yee said that trees help climate, and when considering urban planning, trees are essential, not just a nice to have.
- Gabriel Ng said housing supply was a priority.
Candidate forum quotes Question Six – selected quotes from candidates
Question Seven
How would you support R&D so we can meet our climate targets?
- Joshua Utoyo said that there was no need for government support.
- Stella Yee suggested bringing US scientists here, and was in favour for more support for R&D and CSIRO.
- Gabriel Ng highlighted Labor’s re-establishing the Climate Change Authority and support for CSIRO and the Future Made In Australia Fund.
- Bill Pheasant said that Greens would support pumped hydro, solar thermal, many types of batteries, and establishing battery manufacturing in Australia.
Candidate forum quotes – Menzies Question Seven – selected quotes from candidates and Climate Scorecard scoring document
Question Eight
How would you respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by a rapidly evolving, two way grid?
Candidate forum quotes – Menzies Question Eight – selected quotes from candidates
- Stella Yee said that decarbonising the grid was important and that 10,000km of new transition will help, we can reduce emissions considerably by following the AEMO plan along with electrification
- Gabriel Ng pointed to Labor’s plan for 400 community batteries and talked up the fast build up of large scale batteries and national leadership.
- Bill Pheasant said that the Greens wanted 1,000 community batteries not just 400.
- Joshua Ng reiterated his party wanted no government help needed for the transition. He pointed to the internet and the role of private enterprise, Starlink is good, no help needed for batteries.
It was a privilege to have a question from one of Australia’s representatives to the UN on climate. It is very clear we need to be putting future generations first when we vote
Question Nine
Climate Justice
Would you support measures to help Australians improve our values and structural change to support climate justice?
Candidate forum quotes – Menzies Question Nine – selected quotes from candidates and Climate Scorecard scoring document
Angelica represented Australia at UN on climate. “You guys get to vote” say people in Torres Island about Australians – will you stand up for structural reform, and change your values?
- Gabriel Ng talked about COP31. Labor is showing real leadership – with me you can work within the tent.
- Bill Pheasant said Greens have pushed Labor harder, the Pacific people are not responsible for climate change, we are advocating for structural reform including fair taxes applied to health, education and housing.
Sally Moseby, Menzies for Climate Co-convenor thanks Prof David Karoly, the candidates and audience and asks us all to remember the climate when we vote
Sally Moseby – thank you and next steps
Sally Moseby, Menzies for Climate Co-convenor thanked all the candidates for attending and facing up to constituent questions, and gave particular thanks to Prof David Karoly for his excellent summary of our escalating climate crisis, and the great need for action.
Sally said “We are grateful to those who came along to be fully informed of the issues and the policies of the candidates and/or their parties.”
An opportunity to meet and evaluate the candidates
Liz Reen felt that people were keen to learn more about the candidates in Menzies: “I was very happy with the number of attendees. Given it was late in the campaign I thought we might struggle to get people to attend. Instead it may have worked the other way”. Although the election was close, “information has been limited from some of the candidates. It gave me an opportunity to hear from those I didn’t know.”
Steve Eales commented that there seemed to be a real mix of people at the forum. “Almost everyone thanked us very much as they were leaving. It was certainly well received by those who attended.”
Michelle Eales enjoyed welcoming “all sorts of people from the Menzies community, both ex-Whitehorse councillors and friends. Personally, I hadn’t seen or heard from any of the candidates and so this was a good opportunity to assist me to cast my vote. I am grateful to Lighter Footprints and the other climate groups for supporting this event and enabling climate change to receive the focus it deserves in this election.”
The ability to listen to the candidates in person, and ask them question is a very important part of creating and maintaining a democracy
Bringing volunteers together for climate
Menzies for Climate volunteer Michelle Carey explained that the forum organisation took about a month or so. “A core group of three or four volunteers were working what seemed like seven days a week”, Michelle said preparing everything “from artwork for letterboxing, to contact with clubs and other community groups and liaising with the venue. The communication with candidates and the run sheet for the night were just one aspect. It was the first time I was involved in the organisation of a forum like this and actually the first one I’ve been to.”
Menzies for Climate was supported by Renew Australia for All, Asian Australians for Climate Action, Australian Conservation Foundation and Environment Victoria
Lynn Frankes felt that the audience was “a mixed bag which included climate skeptics, climate action supporters and those in the middle, interested to see the candidates in action. Given this variety, I’m pleased the evening was conducted in a respectful manner with no real heckling or disruption. I think our moderator, Jeff Cranston, did a good job of setting the tone for the evening.”
Michelle Eales took on the role of timekeeper and operating the slideshow. “I found that the candidates pretty much kept to time for their 5 minute positioning statement and then answering the questions from the set and audience.”
Steve Eales worked on roster sign ups, enlisting people to assist with pre polling and election day and asking them join the Menzies for Climate group. “I found that people either avoided contact or were very interested to find out more about Menzies for Climate. Early on I met a High School Student and his father. The Student is his school’s representative on environment. He was keen to get a broader view on the environment outside of the school. It was very refreshing to see his and his fathers enthusiasm and they put their names on the Menzies for Climate List.”
Menzies for Climate voluteers stepped up to take on many roles to bring the candidate forum and a vote climate campaign together
Liz Reen thought the Menzies Candidate Forum was very successful. She took on a role as a photographer. “The team worked together very well and it ran smoothly.”
Michelle Carey delivering flyers and checking people in, “all the attendees waited patiently in line. We were fully booked, actually substantially over-booked” but the non- attendees balanced people who arrived without a booking. Some of the people who didn’t book were so eager to get in that they sourced tickets from non-attendees online.” Michelle’s concerns about attendees “didn’t eventuate. The more experienced members of the Menzies for Climate team had done very well at predicting the number of attendees and the room was full, but not bursting.”
Lynn said it was great to see “our team of volunteers, who are new to working together, take on such a big task, under time pressure and succeed. Everyone had a role to play and everyone rose to the challenge, including doing things they had never done before. It is amazing what a small team can achieve.”
Audience appreciation
The audience was very attentive as evidenced from a reaction on social media from one audience member: “The room was packed with a really diverse group of attendees and the collaborative organisation of the event was excellent. Respect was fully accorded to all the candidates and questions from the floor for attendees was done really well. It was an excellent, informative evening particularly with respect to Professor David Karoly’s update about the state of the climate and what actions we need to employ towards mitigation and genuine action with respect to the climate change emergency and reducing man made greenhouse gas emissions.”
Energy Bill Savings Plan
The Renew Australia for All Alliance is organised around a central plan to repower our homes, reducing energy bills ”for good” through “harnessing our abundant sun and wind to power their homes with affordable, clean energy” to deliver a “fairer, better and more secure future for all Australians”.
Repower Australia for All lays out a phased plan to help all housholds access the benefits of going electric – lower energy bills and healthier household air
The first step of the Energy Bills Savings Plan is an “urgent $5bn investment to deliver immediate subsidies and finance to reduce or eliminate the upfront cost of home energy upgrades, rooftop solar and batteries for millions of Australian households hit hardest by the cost of living crisis.”
Subsequent steps include $50bn over 10 years “to repower Australian homes and communities with rooftop solar, batteries, electric appliances and thermal improvements to help cut energy bills and reduce climate pollution for everyone”. Upsides include increases in climate resilience, improvements in household air quality (gas cooking is responsible for more than 12% of childhood asthma, and gas appliance impact cardiac and respiratory health), and increasing energy security and self-sufficiency for communities and for our nation.