Well over 150 Kooyong locals and supporters crowded onto Burke Rd outside Minister Frydenberg’s offices at yet another spectacular Frydo Friday protest. Banners, speakers, a choir.. and 4 Corners, to announce that local citizens will not stand for public funding for coal.
In an unprecedented show of cooperation, 5 local groups in conjunction with two NGOs aim to make climate the number one election issue in Kooyong. With the government looking to fund up to ten coal projects and use accounting trickery to meet Australia’s Paris commitments, the mood was fierce. The Kooyong Votes Climate campaign is determined to see a climate champion elected.
Kooyong electors have much choice in climate focussed candidates – with a heavy weight clean energy financier, a high profile human rights lawyer joining Labor’s indigenous candidate and two other independents joining the challenge against the liberal incumbent. Recent polling shows a radical change in the mood of the electorate, suggesting that Kooyong is in play with public ire particularly strong about the issue of coal.
One highlight of the event was the passionate speeches given by Alison Grunow, Year 11 in Point Cook, and Marco Bellemo, Year 12, of Q&A fame, about the pressing issue of leaving our kids a survivable planet.
4 Corners were there to record this show of local group power, as part of an upcoming special on Liberals and Climate. They were keen to speak to people who were changing their vote this election. On hand to help people promise their vote for climate were our old friends Frydosaurus and Scomosaurus, part of our range of Denyosaurs.
Ben Pennings and Miriam Robinson were on hand to launch Grey Power Climate Protectors, who have targeted Kooyong in Victoria, 50 Days of Power campaign, starting on March 28th.
Although most of the volunteer efforts were focussed on sign ups to the upcoming campaign launch and community conversations, some participants took our message to the Junction in true Friday Friday style.
Our expert panel has collected the Candidates’ responses to our exhaustive ten page questionnaire on their climate policies and approaches and digested them into an accessible scorecard. You are most welcome you to read these responses and the scoring methodology presented on our website here. We encourage you help keep our children safe by pledging your vote for climate action and a sustainable future – we we promise to keep you updated on the candidates’ positions on climate!