State Election Candidates 2018

Climate Action Moreland is campaigning on climate related election issues in the Moreland based seats of Brunswick, Pascoe Vale and Broadmeadows.

The State election is on Saturday 24 November 2018. To vote in the 2018 State election you must be correctly enrolled for the address at which you live by 8.00 pm on Tuesday 6 November. You can check your enrolment details at the Victorian Electoral Commission site.

Read our policy areas of interest:

Candidates for the electorates that cover Moreland

Here are the candidates for the electorates that cover Moreland, with links to their campaign websites, twitter and Facebook pages. Sitting MPs are indicated by an asterisk.

Brunswick (ABC Guide)

Confirmed candidates in the ballot order:

Pascoe Vale (ABC Guide)

Confirmed candidates in the ballot order:

Broadmeadows (ABC Guide)

Confirmed candidates in the ballot order:

Northern Metro Region – 5 MPs elected

These are the confirmed candidates groupings in ballot order

VOTE 1 LOCAL JOBS
PURCELL, Nathan
PURCELL, Aaron
Comment: James Purcell was elected in 2014 for the South West region. The party, which has a focus on regional job creation has no explicit climate policy, is standing in a wider number of upper house seats. James Purcell’s vote for Labor’s VRET scheme was important to getting climate and renewables targets through the Victorian parliament. See this October media release

AUSSIE BATTLER PARTY
Walter MIKAC
David GRAHAM
Comment: Has a very general Environment policy, but no explicit climate policy. No energy policy. Wants to stop wasting of taxpayers money. Policies lack detail.

SUSTAINABLE AUSTRALIA
Mark McDONALD – website
William CLOW, – Sustainable Australia
Comment: Main focus is for Australia to have a sustainable population. Has a developed Energy Policy, and a reasonably strong Environment Policy, including a moratorium on new export coal, adopting a globally consistent carbon pricing mechanism, Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies (excluding the Diesel Fuel Rebate), promote the environmental benefits of plant-based food. Climate and renewables targets, have similar ambition as the Labor Government, but are still less than is required to match the science for achieving 1.5C target. Emissions Targets: “at least 30 per cent below 2000 levels by 2025; at least 40 per cent and up to 60 per cent below 2000 levels by 2030; t least 80 per cent and up to 100 per cent below 2000 levels by 2050.” Renewables target: “at least 50 per cent by 2030, and up to 100 per cent by 2050.” Environment Policy

AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY PARTY
Cameron STODDART
Domenic GRECO
Comment: Not to be confused with the Nationals Party who previously used this name. Does not have any Federal or Victorian policies on Environment or climate. Does have a firearms policy. Timber policy advocates for sustainable practices but with no detail. Wants utility infrastructure brought back under government ownership and control, starting with electricity production, expand development of natural gas reserves, thorium mining to develop thorium based nuclear power to reduce energy emissions. Position Statements

FIONA PATTEN’S REASON PARTY
Fiona PATTEN* – Reason – Website | Twitter | Facebook
Helena MELTON
Ange HOPKINS
Rachel PAYNE
Dominique MUSICO
Comment: Fiona Patten has a general environment and climate policy and her parliamentary record has been one of supporting the Labor Government proposals on climate and renewables, and advocating for more walking and cycling infrastructure and more efficient public transport, and increase outer suburban liveability. She has been an active and engaged MLC who responds to constituents.

VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA PARTY (VICTORIA)
Sandra M. McCARTHY
Stefan NOTT
Comment: single issue party on legalisation of voluntary assisted dying, Improving the status of Advance Care Directives (ACD’s), Improving palliative care, Improving access to medicinal cannabis. Describes itself as “a moderate, progressive party” and will consider any other policy areas on a case by case basis. Party Policy

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
Louise HITCHCOCK
Richard WRIGHT
Comment: Radical free marketers who fail to accept current climate science: “That atmospheric carbon dioxide is increasing but considers the consequences of this, whether it is due to human influence and if anything can or should be done about it, as too uncertain to warrant government action.” and “Should the evidence become compelling that global warming is due to human activity, that such global warming is likely to have significantly negative consequences for human existence, and that changes in human activity could realistically reverse those consequences, the Liberal Democrats would favour market-based options.” Lots of ifs. Evidently they do not accept the IPCC reports, including the most recent report on the rapid social transformation needed to meet the 1.5C Paris climate target. Wants nuclear power and a uranium enrichment industry established. Energy Policy. Wants to privatise nature to protect species biodiversity. “We absolutely oppose the transfer of forests to national parks. We do not support the locking up of old growth forests in the name of environmental protection.” Environment Policy

HEALTH AUSTRALIA PARTY
Pippa CAMPBELL, – Health Australia Party – website – Facebook
Emily OLDMEADOW
Comment: Main focus is on ensuring good health for Australians. Often Categorised as “Anti-vaccination · Anti-fluoridation · Naturopathy”, although they argue their stance on vaccinations is more nuanced. On climate action they advocate for “Fossil fuel generators should be retired progressively over a reasonable time frame (maximum 15 years) and be substituted with sustainable energy systems. Fossil fuel subsidies should be progressively removed and funds redirected towards clean, renewable energy technologies.” Party Policies

LIBERAL PARTY
Craig ONDARCHIE* – Liberal – Website | Twitter | Facebook
Evan MULHOLLAND – Liberal – Twitter | Facebook
Neelam RAI
Kate DRAKE
Mark POLISTENA
Comment: Does not have an environment or climate policy. Wants to abolish the VRET targets. “Scrapping the Victorian Renewable Energy Target to help stop electricity costs from continuing to sky-rocket for homes and businesses.” and also allow “onshore conventional gas exploration and production” to undermine our farmers and agricultural security and productivity. Wants to spend “a $4.1 billion to $5.3 billion infrastructure project to remove traffic lights and roundabouts through grade separations at 55 of Melbourne and Geelong’s busiest and most dangerous intersections” while silent on upgrading urban rail and public transport network. Road grade separation includes for Camp Road and Bell Street intersections with Sydney Road in Campbellfield and Coburg. 100 policies

AUSTRALIAN GREENS
Samantha RATNAM* – Greens – Website | Twitter | Facebook
Christina ZIGOURAS
Edward CROSSLAND
Josef RAFALOWICZ
Campbell GOME
Comment: Comprehensive and ambitious suite of climate, environment and transport policies. The Greens have emerged as the major third political force in Victorian politics. The Greens “have a plan to transition Victoria to 100% renewable energy by 2030, and start to bring our energy system back into public hands.” This policy is in line with the recent IPCC 1.5C science report if we are to meet the Paris climate targets and avoid crossing dangerous climate tipping points. They have comprehensive transport plan upgrading Public Transport in Melbourne and across the state, including a 17km separated dedicated bike path route from Coburg to St Kilda. On native forests they want to “End logging of native forests while making sure that people working in the timber industry can transition…. Grow employment in tourism and forest restoration”. They also have a Compost not Landfill policy which is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from waste. Policy Platform

TRANSPORT MATTERS
Moti Ram VISA
Afshan MIAN
Comment – Heavy Transport policy focus. Endorses North-east link, East-West Link toll road projects, but also argues cycling infrastructure needs improvement. Policies tend to be fairly general. website

VICTORIAN SOCIALISTS
Stephen JOLLY – Victorian Socialists – website – Facebook – twitter
Sue BOLTON – Victorian Socialists – website – Facebook – twitter
Colleen BOLGER – Victorian Socialists
Comment: a very strong environment and climate policy. “We want to achieve a 30 percent (not 25 percent) renewable energy target by 2020, and 60 percent (not 40 percent) by 2025. With the fast decommissioning of remaining coal-fired power stations, without job losses, these targets can be readily achieved.”

LABOUR DLP
John McBRIDE – website
Jackie GWYNNE
Comment – does not have an explicit environment or climate policy. A November 6 media release rants against “Fabricating pretexts of climate change and saving rare grasses, birds and a possum, the government is pro-actively planning to enclose some 75% of our existing state forests throughout Central Victoria.” Party Policies

AUSTRALIAN LIBERTY ALLIANCE
Russell GOMEZ
John REISNER
Comment: Small right-wing conservative party. “We are neither ‘believers’ nor ‘deniers’ when it comes to climate change. A number of recent claims made about potential future variations of our planet’s climate are not based on scientific fact, but on computerised speculations and consent amongst special interest groups.” Environment Policy

AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY
Jenny MIKAKOS* – ALP – Website | Twitter | Facebook
Nazih ELASMAR* – ALP – Website | Twitter | Facebook
Burhan YIGIT
Ash VERMA
Karen DOUGLAS
Comment: Victorian Labor has comprehensive climate, environment and energy policies, including ensuring there is Just transition. They have legislated a Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) of 25% by 2020 and 40% by 2025 as a minimum, and promised 50% by 2030 (this seems to be a lower target than the trend). These are moderate targets that are not overly ambitious and not sufficient to meet the Paris 1.5C target as outlined in the recent IPCC 2.5C climate science report as necessary. The renewables target is half of The Greens renewable target for 2030. Includes policy action around improving energy efficiency. Labor has continued old growth native forest logging over the last four years, despite warnings this could lead to landscape trap ecosystem change and loss of biodiversity and threatened species. Has failed to consider conservation of mountain ash forests in Central Victorian highlands as the Great Forest National Park. 2018 Policy Platform (PDF)

DERRYN HINCH’S JUSTICE PARTY
Carmel DAGIANDIS, – Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party – website
Prudence MERCIECA
Comment: Does not have an explicit climate change or environment policy, although Senator Hinch fought against the Federal Government reducing funding to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) in 2016.

ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY
Bruce POON – Animal Justice – Website | Twitter | Facebook
Miranda SMITH
Chris DELFORCE
Comment: focus is on animal welfare, but also recognises that urgent action needs to be taken to address global climate destabilisation. Changing diet an important focus. Strong animal welfare and environment policies. Key objectives in the Party on climate policy include: To rapidly transform to a carbon free energy infrastructure; rapidly transform Australian agriculture to allow reforestation by reducing grazing; prohibit any fossil fuel expansion; Implement a carbon tax on both the coal and animal agriculture industries; Direct carbon taxes into clean energy solutions, sustainable plant-based food agriculture systems and education; Protect existing forests and marine habitats from further destruction. Climate Policy

SHOOTERS, FISHERS & FARMERS VIC
Ethan CONSTANTINOU
Chris TZELEPIS
Comment: – No Victorian policies. Under Federal policy has no explicit climate policy, does have an environment policy that talks about ‘active management’, opposes any carbon tax as part of their economic policy. Party Policies

HUDSON 4 NV
Madison WRIGHT
Marylynn MENEGHINI,
Comment – no implicit or explicit climate policies. website)

Candidate Forums

  • 27 September – MTF Transport Forum for Brunswick 6.30pm-8pm at Brunswick Town Hall – Facebook
    – Watch Facebook Live Video
    – Brief report by John Englart on Facebook
  • 11 October – Transport Forum for North Moreland (Pascoe Vale) 6.30pm-8pm Coburg Town Hall – Facebook Live Video
  • 30 October – (Brunswick) Meet the Candidates Forum 6.30pm-8.30pm at Sitworks. organised by Brunswick Residents Network – Facebook
  • Thur 15 November – (Broadmeadows) Fawkner Neighbourhood House 7pm – 9pm – Facebook event
  • Sat 17 November – (Brunswick) 2:30 PM – 4 PM at Alisha’s Café Collective, 313 Lygon St, Brunswick East, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3057 – Facebook event
  • Wed 21 November – (Brunswick) 7pm-9pm Brunswick Town Hall – The Future of Victoria’s Forests – Registration

MTF Transport forum at Brunswick Town Hall

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