Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change

Climate survey of Candidates in #Vicvotes #Brunswick #PascoeVale #Broadmeadows

November 18, 2018 at 3:40 pm John Englart 5 comments

Climate Action Moreland has conducted surveys of candidates for the Victorian State Election in November 2018 for the electorates of Brunswick, Pascoe Vale, and Broadmeadows.  Candidates were emailed the survey based on the Candidate email details supplied to the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC). Survey was sent Monday 12 November, and a reminder on Friday 16 November.

The results for each Legislative Assembly electorate are:

Brunswick (ABC Guide)

• George GEORGIOU (independant) –  George Georgiou climate survey response
• Catherine DEVENY (Reason Party)  – Catherine Deveny and Fiona Patten climate survey response
• Noel COLLINS (Liberal Democrats) – No response
• Cindy O’CONNOR (Labor) – No response
• Kerry SOURASIS – (Independent) – No response
• Adam WOJTONIS – (Liberal Party) – no email provided
• Tim READ (Greens) – Tim_Read climate survey response
• Christopher ANDERSON (Independent – Save the Planet) – Christopher Anderson climate survey response
• Chris MILES (Animal Justice Party) – Christopher Miles climate survey response

Pascoe Vale (ABC Guide)

• Fransesco TIMPANO (Independent) – no email provided
• Genevieve HAMILTON (Liberal Party) – email failure
• Lizzie BLANDTHORN* (Labor) – No response
• Phil JACKSON (Greens)  – Phil Jackson climate survey response
• Oscar YILDIZ (Independant) – No response
• Graeme LINSELL (Animal Justice Party) – No response
• Gerry BEATON (Victorian Socialists) – Victorian Socialists climate survey response
• John KAVANAGH (Independant) – No response

Broadmeadows (ABC Guide)

• Frank McGUIRE* (Labor) – No response
• Jerome SMALL (Victorian Socialist) – Victorian Socialists climate survey response
• Sheridan TATE (Greens) –
• Jenny DOW (Liberal Party) – No response

The Survey Questions:

Candidates were able to select from a range from Strongly agree to strongly disagee. The last question was open ended and asked for comments.

Q1 Candidate Name

Q2 Science and Targets. The IPCC 1.5C report said the world needs to get to net zero emissions by 2050 to limit temperatures to the 1.5C target. Exceeding this target adds substantial economic, social and environmental costs and more extreme impacts imperiling the health and safety of citizens. Victoria has set a net zero emissions target of 2050 in the Climate Act.

• The IPCC report presents a compelling case to limit global
  temperature rise due to climate change to 1.5 degrees.
• Developed countries like Australia need to achieve net zero
  emissions substantially earlier than 2050, as a matter of global
  equity.
• Victoria’s net zero emissions target for 2050 should be
  reviewed and brought forward.

Q3 Triple bottom line accounting brings to account three domains that we need for a good life. They are economic, environmental and social which includes health. It is important to use triple bottom line accounting on all infrastructure, particularly for transport.

Q4 Energy – Renewable Energy Targets: The Victorian government has legislated for renewable energy generation targets of 25% by 2020 and 40% by 2025. Considering that electricity generation is much easier to decarbonise than other sectors (eg Aviation) and in the light of the IPCC 1.5C report, Victoria should transition to 90% or more renewable energy for electricity by 2030, with battery and pumped hydro storage used for firming supply.

Q5 Energy and Public Ownership: The electricity grid should be returned to the public sector to facilitate the transition to renewable energy and control the affordability of electricity prices.

Q6 Energy Transition: Trains. Power purchasing agreements have been made for construction of two solar farms for powering Melbourne trams, set for completion by May 2019. The Melbourne suburban rail system is the second largest electricity user in Victoria. It should also be run on renewable energy by 2022.

Q7 Energy Efficiency. The State Government should use regulation and incentives for an aggressive program of
energy efficiency in both public and private sectors, to achieve what the market will not do on its own.

Q8 Energy and Just Transition: Continued structural support should be provided by the Victorian Government via the La Trobe Valley Authority and other programs for economic diversification, social transition and support of coal communities during the energy transition.

Q9 Energy: new high emissions fossil fuel projects in Victoria (1) Fast Tracked approval of coal to hydrogen pilot export program to Japan (Info: Environment Victoria) should be reversed and the project stopped.

Q10 Energy: new high emissions fossil fuel projects in Victoria (2) AGL LNG to gas import facility at Western Port Bay (Allows Bass Strait gas exported overseas via pipelines to the Gladstone LNG terminals to be imported to Victoria. Fugitive emissions occur at each stage – Info: Environment Victoria). The AGL gas processing facility should not be given approval.

Q11 Ground Transport: Transport is the second largest source of greenhouse emissions at 19%, growing by 3.4% in the year to December 2017. The 2018 Victorian state budget allocated for transport infrastructure funding: 69.1% to roads, 30.5% to public transport, and 0.36% to walking and cycling.

• Reduction in transport greenhouse gas emissions in Victoria needs
  prioritising funding for public transport, cycling and walking
  over major road projects
• regional and interstate freight shift from road to rail

Q12 Aviation Emissions. This is one sector where a technical solution to emissions reduction is not readily available, with Australia’s domestic aviation emissions forecast to grow at 2.2% per year to 2035, International aviation emissions to grow at 3% per year (Infrastructure Australia PDF). A return flight from Melbourne to London produces about 9 tonnes of CO2 per economy passenger, however the climate impact of aviation is 2-3 times the CO2 emissions. The Draft Melbourne Airport Masterplan forecasts demand for aviation will double in the next 20 years and is seeking to build new runways and terminals with no plans in place to limit aviation emissions. (Background: Elephant in the Sky PDF)

• Melbourne (Tullamarine) airport should not be expanded
  unless aviation emissions can be reduced.
• East Coast High Speed Rail should be developed as an
  alternative

Q13 Deforestation is a key driver of changes to weather both globally and locally and climate change puts our forests at risk. Victoria must move to protect our tree coverage, especially old growth forests which are notable carbon sinks (See The Age article 2016).

• Move forest harvesting to plantation timber only
• Declare Greater Forest National Park (GFNP)
• Ensure structural transition programs for timber workers and
  communities

Q14 Do you have any supplementary comments relating to the questions above, comments on other issues related to climate change not covered, or comments on climate change generally?

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Entry filed under: election, Policy, questionnaire, Vote Climate. Tags: survey, vicvotes, vicvotes2018.