Voters chose solar over nuclear and gave a strong climate mandate in Melbourne’s inner east
Late in 2024 we wondered when the election would be. Would they go before Christmas on the back of a rates cut? What about February? Then it was going to be March 8th (but WA election), then Ken Bonham said April 12th was the most popular choice.
Faced with these impossibilities, campaign planning was starting to take on the appearance of a paper bark tree with multiple event date holds continuously being discarded one after another. Finally, as Feb then early March rolled on. the Kooyong Candidate Forum settled itself down on April 2nd, then Chisholm opted for March 18th, and finally Menzies landed on April 24th.
Jenny Smithers said that the “uncertainty regarding the likely election date required various timelines to be developed. In the end it was a climate change extreme weather event Cyclone Alfred that determined the election to be held on 3rd May.”
What are vote climate campaigns and what did we aim for?
Vote Climate campaigns aim to put high quality information about parties and candidate climate policies in front of voters as an easy to absorb scorecard, cutting through disinformation and spin. Along with this the campaign runs events, street conversations, and puts out the climate message through fence signs, letterboxing and social media.
Vote Climate campaigns are all about letterdropping, street conversatons and handing out the scorecard at pre-poll and polling day
Along with allies and supporters, we aimed to raise the profile of climate in three electorates, Kooyong, Chisholm and Menzies. We campaigned on nuclear as well as putting forward the benefits of renewables and electrification. As the election wore on, nuclear became less and less popular, and it may have helped the Liberals lose 11 seats, but we may have to face some variant in coming years, despite the “stinging loss“.
Candidate forums in Kooyong, Chisholm and Menzies – no candidate who refused to face constituents was elected
You can find out more campaign details here:
- Kooyong campaign page and Kooyong Candidate Forum blog
- Chisholm campaign page and Chisholm Candidate Forum blog
- Menzies campaign page and Menzies Candidate Forum blog
The results
Labor was returned with a very large majority, and Greens hold the balance of power in the Senate.
Climate friendly MPs were returned in Kooyong and Chisholm, and Labor won Menzies for the first time ever on the back of Greens and Independent preferences.
Climate independent Dr Monque Ryan retained her seat in Koyoong, Carina Garland retook Chisholm for Labor and Gabriel Ng flipped Menzies for Labor for the first time
The large majority presents opportunities for progress, but also challenges, as the diversity of voices that hold the government to account on coal and gas needs to be strengthened by the community.
In many it ways it is up to us to seize the potential of the next three years.
Check out our blog on second term big ideas for climate here and sign up to help on our on our volunteer page here..
Vote Climate 2025!
Planning for the Federal 25 election commenced in 2024. Lighter Footprints worked in collaboration with Kooyong Climate Change Alliance, ACF, Doctors for the Environment, Australian Asians for Climate Solutions to ensure the need for climate action was in voters minds.
Menzies for Climate volunteers worked hard raising the profile of climate, talking about clean energy and guaging people’s opinions on nuclear, electrification and climate action
Jenny Smithers, Lighter Footprints Convenor said that the first task was to “develop a campaign plan to enable us to work effectively together and engage different sections of our community.”
“Mindful of the need to rapidly transition our electricity generation to renewables we felt it was important to keep in voters minds that the transition to renewables is well underway and that nuclear power was too expensive, too slow and too risky.
A leaflet was produced for street work highlighting the good news regarding renewables and the many problems with the Coalition’s nuclear proposal.”
Jenny Smithers, Convenor, Lighter Footprints
Nuclear was not reasonable or feasible climate policy, and a variety of climate groups ran events and protests to keep this message alive throught the election campaign
Focussing on key campaign issues
Although we started looking at energy policy, specifically nuclear vs renewables, it became clear that one of the most urgent tasks of the campaign was to look at cost of living, and how climate action would reduce energy bills in the short term, and well as how renewables would lower the cost of electricity, increase our energy resilience and accelerate clean manufacturing and exports.
Energy equity also became a critical election issue, and something that campaign partner organisations such as Renew Australia for All created energy for in the campaign.
We created four website pages and two DLs for stalls, festivals, events and letterboxing.
Volunteers letterdropped our two campaign issues flyer, which were also used in festivals and street conversations
Here is some key messaging used in our campaign pages and on social media – we are grateful for CANA, the Climat4e Council, The Australia Institute and Renew Australia for All for bringing theses issues into sharp focus through the campaign.
Cost of living – 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.
The Kooyong Votes Climate launch got off to a rousing start
Starting off with a bang – the Kooyong Votes Climate Launch
KCCA, ACF Boroondara and Lighter Footprints celebrated the launch of the 2025 Votes Climate campaign on Sunday February 16th at the Camberwell Central Bowls Club, supported by ACF, Australian Asians for Climate Solutions and Doctors for the Environment. Enthusiasm was high – not just the barbecue, but the sense of working together with allies in the very important task of putting climate front and centre of voters minds.
ACF Boroondara had been working for months with conversations, stalls and events promoting the yes to renewables, no to nuclear, protect nature message
“As a parent concerned about the future my kids will inherit, I found it heartwarming to share a hall with so many folk who are volunteering their time and energy to promote solutions to climate change ahead of the federal election.”
Amy Hiller
Check out more about the Launch on our Facebook album, Bluesky thread and tweet string.
Rob Pettit said, given it was his first Lighter Footprints campaign, that it was exciting to see and meet a diverse range of people and environmental organisations, “many of whom have committed years, even decades to significantly improving the environment for the benefit of all people.”
“Overall the commitment of the audience to creating a healthier planet was palpable. For a first timer putting faces to names was invaluable.”
Rob Pettit
The Climate Candidate Scorecard
Alex Currell first took us through how Kooyong has changed politically – driven by concern for climate action and political integrity. He then explained the rigorous process of evaluating all the candidates’ climate policies based on the public record of published statements, all collated in an easy to understand scorecard.
Sarah Brennan and Alex Currell talked to the long process in evaluating the parties and candidates climate policies and their value in the campaign
Vote Climate campaigns are all about putting this information into the hands of voters, and giving them opportunities to ask questions directly, for instance through a Candidate Forum. A full Vote Climate climate campaign with events. letterdropping, pre-poll and polling day centred around a non-partisan scorecard, is worth 2-3%. The 2024 Boroondara Votes Climate campaign, with scorecard, forum and street work, contributed to the remarkable change in the composition of the Boroondara Council, with a new 10/11 climate progressive majority.
Vote Climate campaign plans
Julia Croatto introduced KCCA’s plans for street conversations, letterdropping the scorecard, and rostering pre-poll and polling day. A large number of shifts were filled, and many people carted away bundles for the exercising for climate!
The KCCA fence signs were a big hit, with artwork contributed by Sarah B. “Sometimes it can feel like you are the only one that is concerned about the state of the planet but seeing people sign up to volunteer at our events, collect letterboxing bundles and take our corflutes to hang on their fence reminds me that there are others who care.”
“Climate change is still a big concern for me so seeing many people in our community show up for the campaign launch was touching.”
Sarah B, graphic artist
One of the great strengths of the KCCA and Lighter Footprints volunteers is their ability to letterdrop – here volunteers picked up event puboicity bundles
The seven reactor plan
Then there was nuclear – what has now been proved to be an absolute anchor on LNP fortunes (or we should now say Liberal and Nationals fortunes) – nuclear seemed to be then so threatening and divisive, a masterstroke against renewables (on paper at least), causing us too many hours of research and fuelling countless hours of street conversations.
Lighter Footprints volunteers Amy, Rob and Lynn encouraged people to work together to shift votes for climate, and Dave Sweeney spoke about what was really behind the LNP seven reactor plan
Check out Lighter Footprint’s nuclear information page for a summary of expert opinion, with expert links,
Veteran campaigner Dave Sweeney explains what’s really behind the LNP’s plan
ACF’s nuclear free campaigner Dave Sweeney explained that the LNP’s nuclear policy was basically a smart political tactic rather than anything viable. Nuclear is far too slow, the highest cost form of generation, is deeply unpopular and could cost up to $600bn of hard earned taxpayer dollars. Going nuclear would stop clean energy in its tracks – capping it at 54% which seems to be the whole point (plus getting subsidies for keeping our coal clunkers going for another decade or two).
“Dave Sweeney is an adept speaker and his message on how the Liberals are using nuclear as a campaign tactic rather than a serious policy was very powerful.”
Lynn Frankes
Check out our three minute short video from Dave Sweeney here.
Why are we doing this?
Time after time, volunteers expressed that the reason they were working to shift votes for climate was for our children and grandchildren. Our kids deserve to live in a safe climate, or if that is no longer possible, as safe as we can make it.
Why do we do this – for our kids
Campaigning in Chisholm
Chisholm Climate Action Network led the Vote Climate campaign in Chisholm, supported by member groups ACF Chisholm and Lighter Footprints as well as NGOs and alliances including Renew Australia for All, Asian Australians for Climate Solutions and Doctors for the Environment Australia.
Volunteers organised stalls, showed up at festivals and weekly roadside vigils, really upped their game on letterdropping so that the whole electorate received the scorecard for the first time, organised a Candidate Forum based round future energy (code for nuclear vs renewables), and handed out the climate scorecard at selected booths on pre-poll and polling day.
Chisholm Community Future Energy Forum
A community forum to discuss the future of energy in Australia on March 18 was hosted by Chisholm Climate Action Network, working with Lighter Footprints.
Chisholm Climate Action Network volunteers organised a candidate where candidates spoke on future energy especially renewables vs nuclear
There was a full house at the Mt Waverley Youth Centre to interrogate energy policy ahead of the elections. Dave Hudspeth commented “perhaps a largely climate aware crowd but certainly a good mix of locals.”
The Chisholm forum was organised by Chisholm Climate Action Network – such a success – thanks to all the volunteers who contributed so much time and energy
The meeting was moderated by A/Prof Christopher Leung, MBBS, FRACP, Doctors for the Environment, and supported by Renew Australia for All, Doctors for the Environment, Environnment Victoria and Solar Citizens. Prof Chris Leung strongly articulated Doctors for the Environment Australia’s support for climate action, for moving away from gas and coal, and opposition to nuclear, not just on health grounds, but also through a major impact on emissions due to extending the life of coal power and increasing gas – you can check DEA’s very detailed Parliamentary submission here including a substantial list of references.
Prof Chris Leung, specialist, research leader, and Deputy Chair of the Doctors for the Environment Australia provided moderation and presented the DEA position on climate policy
You can check out the full presentation video here.
Keynotes – opportunities from renewables and solving the energy equity challenges
Huge thanks to Jenny Smither, Convenor, Lighter Footprints for introducing the evening and for keynotes from Heidi Lee Douglas, CEO, Solar Citizens and Peizhi Jiang from Environment Victoria
Heidi Lee Douglas from Solar Citizens
Heidi Lee Douglas, CEO Solar Citizens and Peizhi Jiang, Environment Victoria emphasised the value of electrifying households to increase resilience, improve health and energy equity for low income households and renters.
Solar Citizens advocates for energy equity for the 60% of Australians who are locked out of solar (appartments, social housing, low income), and for better supports for solar and electrification.
Heidi talked about success stories to date, including $800m for solar and energy efficiency for social housing, $1bn Household Energy Upgrades Fund (HEUF), and the National Vehicle Efficiency Standards allowing more EVs and people driving on solar. She also noted the way EVs and support for household batteries could greatly benefit the grid, improving the management of evening peaks and reducing our need for gas.
“Frontier Economics report they have based their nuclear policy on only allowing space for 54% of the grid from renewables which we will get to next year! So will the Liberal party cap more people getting solar on their roofs?
What about that 60% of the population we are finding solutions for to get them access to rooftop solar energy ? Will they be permanently excluded from the cheapest, cleanest energy? If so, that just not fair.”
Heidi Lee Douglas, CEO, Solar Citizens
When it comes to nuclear, Solar Citizen’s no is based on equity as well as climate grounds, and it’s solar stopping power for existing solar PV users -“nuclear is a threat to rooftop solar”.
“We are concerned that rootfop solar will be switched off to make space for nuclear.
The cost of this is big for the consumer, losing the $1200 savings per year from solar, plus extra costs of nuclear on energy bills of an average $800 a year – adding another $2000 per year to many energy bills.”
Heidi Lee Douglas, CEO, Solar Citizens
Peizhi Jiang working with Renew Australia for All coalition
Peizhi shared his experience as a renter, desiring to be part of the energy transition but having no influence on how his home is powered and suffering the effects of poor energy efficiency.
Peizhi Jiang talked about the need to offer solar savings to those in social housing, strata housing and in appartments – housing should be comfortable and well insulated with healthy cost effective electric appliances
Peizhi feels a stronger democracy results in a stronger community.
Candidate statements and responses
The candidates were asked about their support for solar PV, household electrification to lower energy costs especially from the perspective of energy equity for renters and low income. They were also asked about their position on nuclear, shift to renewables, clean manufacturing and clean exports.
On nuclear vs renewables
Kath Davies reiterated her support for renewables and opposition to nuclear which is “too illegal, it’s too unproven, it’s too expensive, it’s too late, it’s too slow, and it’s too risky.”
Citing benefits to households, manufacturing and farmers she said “We’re already moving into an irreversible, decentralised power generation system. Why stop”.
Another issue is the need to broaden Australia’s tax base: “I’d like to reform the economic and tax it points to actually encourage the right behaviour. For example, we have to get rid of fossil fuel subsidies. We need to reform the petroleum resource tax to raise additional revenue as well.”
“If I have anything to do with it I would say yes of course we will achieve the renewable energy target.
It is not right for, taxpayers to invest in nuclear, particularly when we’ve got a clean, free, cheap energy source”
Kath Davies, Independent candidate for Chisholm
Full, strong democracies are enjoyed by less than 10% of global populations – here all major candidates answered constituent questions, including the Liberal candidate who promoted nuclear in our energy mix
Katie Allen was able to join the Forum as the questions started, missing content on intergenerational and energy equity, and arguments in favour of renewables from DEA, Solar Citizens and Renew Australia for All. She said that “I think I’ve made quite a significant contribution to that debate by essentially changing the position of our party [on net zero by 2050]” and put forward nuclear as a matter of choice.
“In my view, we need to have an energy mix. I’m a scientist, and I’ve always believed in being technology agnostic in getting to a carbon neutral future. And in my view, we should not have one arm tied behind our back. We do need to include consideration of nuclear,”
Katie Allen, Liberal candidate for Chisholm
Katie Allen’s argument that both nuclear and renewables were necessary ignored 54% cap in Frontier’s modelling – as baseload only, nuclear would require stopping individual PV systems on people’s roofs, drastically lowering their energy bills savings, as well as stopping the build out of large scale renewables to be able to fit into the national grids.
Katie Allen said “Our coalition party has agreed to doubling renewables, doubling our solar, doubling wind and tripling batteries and tripling storage.” but also said “We will need to use some gas in the long term, and this is over the next 30 to 50 years.”
Carina Garland reiterated Labor’s support for renewables and home electrification as well as climate targets: “We are investing in renewables. We are investing in community batteries. We are empowering people to be part of the solution that will see Australia meet our targets”
“In relation to nuclear, I don’t think it’s a viable option because the technology doesn’t exist because it’s such a long time away.
We’re talking about cost of living right now in energy. We know renewables are the cheapest and most reliable source of energy. Why would we spend $600 billion in a decade to have more expensive energy?
Carina Garland, Labor candidate for Chisholm
Tim Randall talked about the Greens detailed policies on climate “to acheive net zero emissions by 2035” as well as support for renewables and opposition to nuclear.
“The Greens are working for no new coal and gas and no nuclear energy, electrification of transport, homes and industry to cut emissions, ending native forest logging and protecting these vital carbon sinks, redirecting fossil fuel subsidies to support communities and climate solutions, and a job for job guarantee to ensure a fair transition for workers.”
Tim Randall, Greens candidate for Chisholm
Tim Randall said “Coal and gas is the leading cause of climate change, and if you don’t have a plan to get out of coal and gas, you don’t have a plan to deal with the climate crisis.” while noting Labour and Liberal support for expanding these industries. “Since taking office, Labour has approved 28 new coal and gas projects, driving emissions higher than under Scott Morrison.”
Instead of making the problem worse, and investing in industries that will soon become obsolete “we have the opportunity to also address our energy and economic security. The whole world is shifting away from carbon.”
Answering questions – the sharpest divides seemed to be on coal and gas, with Labor and Liberal proposing expansion, and on renewables – LNP’s “double solar and triple batteries” hiding hiding the 54% renewables cap inherent in LNP/Frontiers nuclear modelling
Comparing candidates
Check out the Facebook album and event blog for images, key quotes, candidate transcript, and expert links.
We developed a comparison set of key candidate responses to all questions which was used on social media.
Candidate scorecards
Chisholm CAN worked with KCCA in finalising the candidate scorecard – each candidate or parties policies were detailed and then scored, all summarised on the candidate scorecard which linked back to the scorecard information page. This procedure was also followed for Kooyong and Menzies.
How do community campaigns work? With volunteer time, organising, effort and good cheer – thanks to our vote climate scorecard team!
Our printer coped with a very short turn around in order to get the scorecards bundled and distributed for pickup by the volunteers.
We are grateful to Parents for Climate and Doctors for the Environment who contributed to the Vote Climate letterdrop – reminding us about the whole point of climate action, our health, and protecting the people we love
Social media posts on bundling attracted quite a bit of positive attention and helped with letterdropping – people like to see action, and wanted to contribute to our participatory democratic process.
Chisholm Climate Action fundraised and letterdropped so that the candidate scorecared reached the whole electorate
Ratings for the Senate were able to added to a second scorecard version once the ballots were drawn, and this was used for pre-poll and polling day.
The Kooyong Campaign
Kooyong Climate Change Alliance and Lighter Footprints led the Vote Climate campaign in Kooyong with 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.
Armed with A frames with For the Kids signs, petitions, flyers and finally scorecards Vote Climate volunteers ran street conversations for weeks
The Vote Climate campaign was based round protecting the environment and lowering the cost of living through supporting solar and household electrification.
This election there was a higher emphasis on Facebook stories and instagram, and well as Facebook posts levering events with albums with rich links, transcript as well as comments, and promoting website assets like blogs. This is an improved capacity compared to 2022, but needs further work. An example was fence signs – volunteers emailed in selfies which were upcycled into posts and stories.
For the kids signs, produced for the Launch, ran out and had to move to a second print run
Kooyong Candidates Forum
Lighter Footprints signature event is the climate candidate forum. Jenny Smithers said that it “was disappointing that Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer withdrew from attending the forum less than 6 hours before the start. Amelia’s empty chair on the stage signalled to me that the Liberal’s did not have a credible climate policy to present”. The Liberals gave up on the opportunity to present to town hall full of constituents that had been booked out with others watching the livestream in favour of a phone bank.
Jackie Carter for the Greens, Clive Crosby for Labor and Dr Monique Ryan, Independent presentedtheir climate policies, listened to the community and answered a wide range of questions
Under three banners ‘Engage’, ‘Influence’ and ‘Advocate’, Jenny Smithers, welcomed the large audience in the Hawthorn Town Hall to the Kooyong Candidates Forum.
A big thanks to all our volunteers and supporters!
Attendees of all ages were greeted in the foyer by volunteers from the community groups that work with Lighter Footprints to raise awareness and take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Doctors for the Environment, Parents for Climate, ACF Boroondara, Kooyong Climate Change Alliance, Asian Australians for Climate Solutions, SolarCitizens, Renew Australia for All, The Wilderness Society, Friends of the Earth and Electrify Boroondara.
Thanks so much to all the local and larger climate organisations who have supported our Vote Climate campaign in Kooyong
The climate science basis
Jenny Smithers, Lighter Footprints Convenor and a retired GP, opened her section on climate science with a quote from the medical journal The Lancet: Climate change is the greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century. But it is also the greatest opportunity to redefine the social and environmental determinants of health.
The Lancet Countdown has looked in detail about the impacts of global warming on the environment, communities and health on an annual basis
You can read our blog on Jenny Smithers’ presentation on the science basis for climate action, or watch her presentation on YouTube here.
This is a simplified version of Climate Action Tracker’s graphical representation of Australia’s progress on climate action with rating Insufficient, plus IEAs 2021 warning on no new coal and gas
“We cannot keep putting more CO2 into our atmosphere nor other greenhouse gases, especially highly warming methane, ‘natural’ gas. We’re not on the podium, but we’re up there. In 2022, Australia was the fourth largest fossil fuel exporter. Australia’s global fossil fuel carbon footprint is at least three times larger than our domestic footprint.
Are we on track to keep our climate safe at present? The answer is no. A rise of three degrees Celsius by the end of the century is not safe.”
Jenny Smithers
Jenny Smithers led with acknowledgements and climate science update, Ivy Sheng reminded us why we were all here, Victoria Mckenzie-McHarg zeroed in with incisive questions and Alex Currell detailed Amelia Hamer’s scores
Ivy Sheng – protecting the climate for the next generation
Following Jenny was Ivy Sheng, a 16 year old student and member of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition talking about what the climate crisis means for her generation.
“I often hear that my generation is the last to live in the world as we know it. But I think we should reframe that. We’re also the first generation to really wake up to this crisis. And luckily for us, we do have the technology and willpower and imagination to actually do something about it.”
Ivy Sheng
Ivy represented so well the very serious cost of inaction on climate change. You can watch her statement on YouTube here.
Candidate Statements
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 that she was not coming at 1.08pm on the day of the forum. As had been communicated to all candidates, the Liberal party position on climate was presented to the audience, including the candidate scorecard result, which was the lowest result in all cases. You can watch the presentation here.
Amelia Hamer, the Liberal candidate, pulled out by email with just six hours notice in favour of a community event which turned out to be a phone bank with Angus Taylor
“It’s fair to say that the Liberals’ policies barely engage with the climate crisis, despite frequent references to zero emissions technology in their deeply flawed nuclear energy policy.”
Alex Currell, KCCA Scorecard Committee
Thanks so much to our very large group of volunteers and organisers. We could not have done this event without you
Audience Questions
Questions from the moderator and the audience covered the climate emergency, political donations, fossil fuel subsidies, financial support for domestic battery installations, native forest logging and whether Australia should review its involvement in AUKUS.
Climate emergency response, fossil donations, nuclear, forests, why would a young person vote for you – key questions showing big differences in climate policy between parties and candidates
Monique Ryan’s final plea was for government to be more focused on intergenerational equity to improve education and housing affordability as well as ensuring a safer climate in the future.
Thanks too to Mayor Sophie Torney, Councillors and Representatives past and present for your support
You can read a full list of questions and responses here or check out the comprehensive Facebook album with volunteer and event images, slides, comparative quotes, actual candidate words and expert links.
Comparing candidates
Over the following weeks, the candidates responses were analysed and summarised in a pdf with comparative quotes on key points for the social media campaign.
At a glance comparisons – Kooyong candidates reponses were summarised in a comparitaive pdf
Over final weeks of the campaign, the scorecard was presented to voters in a variety of forms through Facebook advertising, linking through to the Kooyong Scorecard information page, with links to the comprehensive policy and scoring documents
Reaching into Menzies
Lighter Footprints joined with others to form Menzies for Climate, a new alliance of groups and individual keen to achieve strong action on climate change. Menzies for Climate worked hard to raise the profile of climate as an election issue.
Menzies for Climate volunteers showed up at festivals, markets and events explaining the need for faster climate action
Volunteers organised stalls, letterdropping, a Candidate Forum, and handed out the climate scorecard at selected booths on pre-poll and polling day.
Menzies Candidate Forum
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.
Menzies for Climate came together to organise a Vote Climate campaign including a very well attended candidate forum
State of the climate update with 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.
“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
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 2050sunless we take urgent action. Every increase in temperature greatly increases extreme weather impacts (See CSIRO State of the Climate 2024).
Candidates and audience listened attentively to Prof David Karoly’s challenging and critically important message about the urgency of action on the climate
“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
We need to act now
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.
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.
You can watch Prof David Koroly’s presentation here, with science overlays and quotes.
Candidate presentations
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.
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. He went on to highlight the reinstated Climate Change Authority, and the upcoming household battery subsidy of 30%
Bill Pheasant, for Greens, highlightedthat we are heading towards a climate emergency, we are well on our way to 2 degrees of warming which is already resulting in human and natural catastrophes. He discussed Greens detailed sector plans, the progress but 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
You can watch the full presentation video here, and look through the Facebook album for comparative quotes, expert links and key moments from the transcript.
The last few weeks
Delivering scorecards right across Chisholm and Kooyong was a big effort – for fundraising for the less accessible parts of Chisholm, and many emails and phone calls to call our keen volunteers to deliver yet more bundles across what amounted for many people just two weekends. There were even informal competitions with one person getting into the teens in just a few days! Huge thanks to all our climate champions who gave their all (and got fitter in the process).
It seemed only days once all the scorecards had been delivered before pre-poll was upon us
And thanks also to our very busy organisers and Committee members who spent hours each day ringing volunteers to fill pre-poll shifts, as well as the Scorecard Committee, finalising the last few candidates, redesigning the scorecard, driving off for fast turn around printing, making A-frames, working on social media and digital advertising, and of course to the climate champions who staffed the booths.
The first day pre-poll was very busy, with a queue out into the street, determined voters and a large number of coreflutes and people handing out to how to vote cards
Being at pre-poll was not without incident, especially in Kooyong with the now fabled war of the coreflutes, walls and rows of them spilling over footpaths, sitting on top of each other, tied up on power poles, with many ‘volunteers‘ seemingly arriving from the Yarra Valley every morning, for what quid pro quo we are not entirely sure, but hopefully nothing to do with electoral roll data use.
The first day at pre-poll was very busy, over half a million votes cast according to Antony Green, and it only got busier from there – despite a slightly lower number of days, pre-poll jumped from 32% in 2022 to 37% in 2025, proving again how important getting scorecards out early enough and staffing pre-poll is.
Kew pre-poll was also busy, with a more moderate number of coreflutes that more or less conformed to Council regulations. Vote Climate volunteers covered all pre-poll shifts
The Chisholm CAN crew were at it day after day at pre-poll and again on polling day, helping people decide how to vote for climate
Finally the big day arrived, sausages were eaten, votes were cast and we sat back to listen to Antony Green. As the days passed people anxiously refreshed their AEC pages, but it is clear now that a climate independent and two climate moderates were elected in the electorates we campaigned in, despite the massive disinformation campaign and social media advertising, printing and billboard spend.
We can’t sit back though. Labor’s massive majority is a blessing and a curse for climate progress – a great opportunity to get gas out of houses and increase resilience with policies that support electrification, but who will stand for shifting exports to electrons and clean manufacturing?
What’s Next
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.
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.
This is what matters – creating a safer for our kids, which means stopping new coal and gas – the two are not compatible.