The Victorian election will be held on November 29, 2014.
While the main Parties look set to run a ‘bread and butter’ election – focusing on issues like education, health, infrastructure and the economy, there is also a pressing need to make environmental concerns an issue at this election.
FoE is not aligned with any political party. Its mission is to gain protection for the natural environment, and elections present a great opportunity to promote a policy agenda which will help gain these protections.
[scroll to the end of this section for details on candidate's forums]
What are the issues we are working on?
Victoria stands at a cross road. We can either re-start the approvals process for renewable energy and start to unlock the climate action, jobs and investment that would come with such a move. Or we can keep throwing good money at the pipe-dream of 'clean' coal and the frightening prospect of a coal export industry.
This election gives us the chance to make a decision about the type of energy future we want for our state.
The four key policy commitments that FoE is seeking from political parties are listed below.
1/ we are calling for a permanent ban on any new coal and gas mining operations in key areas in Victoria.
This should include a ban on any exploration or production in:
· productive agricultural areas
· drinking water catchments, rivers, and ground water supplies
· urban areas, and areas marked for future urban development
· all public land including state forests, land leased to plantation companies and all conservation reserves
2/ we urge the Parties to rule out any further coal allocations or development of coal infrastructure
3/ we call on the Parties to commit to re-write the Baillieu government’s VC82 anti-wind laws.
4/ we believe that a commitment to developing a state-based Renewable Energy Target (VRET) would drive regional employment and investment, and help Victoria start to drive down greenhouse gas emissions.
We are also focusing on
- the need to get strong, science-based emissions reduction targets back into the Climate Change Act,
- the need to re-start negotiations for the phased shut down of the Hazelwood power station, and replace its capacity with jobs rich renewable energy,
- the need to put public money to public transport, not the East/West link.
How are we working?
We are carrying out general awareness raising about our issues in both eastern and western regional Victoria, to highlight the threats posed by new coal and gas operations, and the opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by removing the current blockages to the development of renewable energy.
We are engaging deeply in a number of specific electorates, including:
· Macedon. To get involved, please email Leigh: [email protected]
How to get involved
We are looking for volunteers to:
- Take on co-ordinating our work in each of these areas/ electorates (co-ordinating other people to take action and driving the local campaign).
Local activity might include: lobby visits of MPs and candidates, developing a local score card on policies, letter boxing, door knocking, local media work and commentary, stunts or other events.
This will be up to the team of people involved.
- People who are interested in leafleting and letter boxing. If you can letterbox, please contact Cam: [email protected]
We are currently starting letterboxing our campaign postcard in the inner North (seat of Melbourne) and Warrandyte.
- People who would like to be part of our rapid response team (to get alerts for when we are holding events and need people to show up: please email your name/ mobile/ email address/ suburb to: [email protected].
- People who would like to be in our letter writing team.
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get involved with our community polling.
Community conversations: Geelong. FoE’s Yes 2 Renewables campaign and the Geelong Sustainability Group are doing a series of community consultations about 'Our Energy Future’. These are ‘Kitchen Table Conversations' which aim to understand what type of energy sources people do and don’t support.
If you live in the Geelong area and would like to be involved with this exciting project, please check here.
Community conversations: Macedon. If you live north of Melbourne, we are doing the same format of kitchen table consultations in towns like Woodend.
We need more people to get involved. If you’re keen, please contact our renewables co-ordinator, Leigh: [email protected]
Community polling, metro seats. Getting out and talking with the community about their preferred energy options will generate powerful data about what voters want. We will deliver this to the main parties as we get closer to the November election.
We are launching a series of polling stalls in a range of metropolitan seats later this week.
We are looking to do stalls in the following seats over the next month:
- Geelong,
- Torquay (South Barwon),
- South Gippsland (probably Mirboo North),
- The inner north (seat of Melbourne),
- Eltham
- Forest Hill
We hope people can help with being on the stalls and doing the polling. Also, be great to have a driver or 2. If you were keen, you can also contact Kat, who is co-ordinating our work in these seats: [email protected]
Please sign our petition
Please sign our petition to the Coalition and ALP calling on the Parties to protect farmland by ruling out new coal and gas mining operations.
Events
These events are hosted by a range of local community groups.
Monday Nov 10 - Carlton Candidates Forum. (Seat of Melbourne). Church of All Nations, 180 Palmerston St., Carlton (cnr Drummond St). 7pm.
Tuesday Nov 11 - Bendigo Election Forum on Climate. St Pauls Cathedral Hall, 8 Myers Street, Bendigo, 7pm. Organised by Keith, Colin and BSG.
https://www.facebook.com/events/359553114212150/
Wednesday Nov 12 - Public Climate Forum: Does Government Matter?,
Hawthorn Arts Centre (formerly Town Hall), 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn. 6:30pm.
https://www.facebook.com/events/299802253542240/
Wednesday Nov 12 - State election climate Q and A. Northcote Town Hall (Seat of Northcote)
189 High St, Northcote. 6:30pm. Organised by Jane and DCAN.
https://www.facebook.com/events/317775225091668/
Friday Nov 14 - State Election Forum for the seat of Brunswick. Brunswick Uniting Church, 212-214 Sydney Rd Brunswick. 7pm.
https://www.facebook.com/events/799471636763100/?fref=ts
Sunday Nov 16 - Growth! Is Bigger Better? Forum. Quicksilver Auditorium, 27 Baines Crs, Torquay. 2pm. Organised by Graeme, Aaron and SCEG.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1380769115546423/?fref=ts
Monday Nov 17 - Climate change and the Vic election: Quiz your candidates. Coburg Town Hall, 90 Bell St, Coburg. 7pm.
https://www.facebook.com/events/550187368458162/
If there are any other forums in your area, please let us know. [email protected]
PREVIOUS EVENTS
Wednesday Nov 5 - Docklands Candidates Forum. Watermark - tenancy 9, 800 Bourke St (located on Victoria Harbour Promenade). 7pm.
Thursday November 6th, 7.00pm-9.00pm Environmental Issues Political Forum Ballarat
VENUE: Mr Rede, 203 Dana St, Ballarat (The Ballarat Club Building)
The Victorian State Election is fast approaching; how much do you know about the major parties' environmental policies?
This is your chance to find out, and ask the pollies your probing questions in person!
http://www.greendrinks.org/VIC/Ballarat
Seat of Brighton. Friday 7 November at 7pm at Hampton Community Centre Hall, 14 Willis St Hampton. Includes Greens candidate Dr Margie Beavis, and, Jane Touzeau, independent campaigning to raise awareness of imminent possibility of fracking in Victoria.
Sunday Nov 9 - Portland Candidates Forum (Premier Napthine's seat). Fawthrop Community Centre, 2pm.
Ride for Renewables
October 18.
The Macedon Ranges will have a chance to show their support for renewable energy and jobs by participating in the region’s first Ride 4 Renewables. FoE's Yes 2 Renewables is pleased to join Woodend Cycles in supporting the community event.
Full details here.
Mirboo North candidates forum. October 26.
Find out where our candidates stand on unconventional gas - new coal developments - renewable energy.
Riddells Creek (Macedon electorate).
Wed Oct 22. Full details shortly.
South West Coast Candidates Forum
Sunday November 9th 2pm
Fawthrop Centre, Portland
To get involved
Please contact the contact above for whatever you are interested in, or else email or call Cam Walker: [email protected], 0419 338 047
