We sent the six candidates in the February 12 Strathfield by-election a survey comprising eleven questions relating to climate change in the local electorate and across New South Wales. Four candidates responded via the on-line form provided, one sent us a detailed three-page reply. One candidate (Bridget Sakr, Liberal Party) did not send a response.
All answers are presented here unedited. Candidates are listed in order of receipt of their reply.
- How important do you rank climate change as an issue facing NSW? (1: unimportant; 5: very important)
Elizabeth Farrelly (Independent): 5
Rohan Laxmanalal (Animal Justice Party): 5
Ellie Robertson (Sustainable Australia): 5
Courtney Buckley (Greens): 5
Jason Yat-Sen Li (Labor):
- Taking action on climate change is urgent. Talking about it is not enough.
- We have a Premier who has a questionable track record on climate change. As Treasurer he described action on climate change as a gratuitous waste.
- We need certainty on climate action for communities, business and industry so we can plan an equitable future alongside them.
2. To what extent do you believe climate change will personally affect members of the community in Strathfield by 2030? (1: Not at all; 5 – Very significantly)
Elizabeth Farrelly (Independent): 5
Rohan Laxmanalal (Animal Justice Party): 5
Ellie Robertson (Sustainable Australia): 4
Courtney Buckley (Greens): 5
Jason Yat-Sen Li (Labor): Very significantly – The Strathfield community will experience hotter days and more of them as well as increases in extreme weather events in the next decade. By 2030 maximum temperatures for metropolitan Sydney are projected to rise by 0.7 ºC and continue to rise by 1.9 ºC by 2070. Sydney will experience an average of 4 more days above 35 ºC per year by 2030 and 11 days per year by 2070.
3. Are the current actions undertaken by the NSW State Government adequate to address the problem of climate change? Yes/No/Maybe
Elizabeth Farrelly (Independent): No.
Rohan Laxmanalal (Animal Justice Party): No.
Ellie Robertson (Sustainable Australia): No.
Courtney Buckley (Greens): No.
Jason Yat-Sen Li (Labor):
* No – The state’s current commitment to reducing carbon emissions is merely aspirational.
* The climate crisis deserves urgent action that cannot be derailed by the whims of the Premier or the Minister of the day.
4. If you are selected, will you advocate in parliament for state and federal governments to end subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. Yes/no
Elizabeth Farrelly (Independent): Yes.
Rohan Laxmanalal (Animal Justice Party): Yes.
Ellie Robertson (Sustainable Australia): Yes.
Courtney Buckley (Greens): Yes.
Jason Yat-Sen Li (Labor):
NSW Labor will take an active role in equitably transitioning NSW to a renewable powered state. NSW Labor does not support any form of public funding on extraction of new fossil fuels.
5. Will you vote in parliament to legislate an emissions reduction target in NSW?
Elizabeth Farrelly (Independent): Yes.
Rohan Laxmanalal (Animal Justice Party): Yes.
Ellie Robertson (Sustainable Australia): Yes.
Courtney Buckley (Greens): Yes.
Jason Yat-Sen Li (Labor): Yes – NSW Labor currently has a bill before parliament to legislate an emissions reduction target and establish an independent Net Zero Commission which will develop the plan and monitor progress and hold government accountable.
6. Will you advocate in parliament for the creation of an independent commission to monitor and review the state’s trajectory towards its stated emissions targets, and to provide reports to the NSW parliament every year?
Elizabeth Farrelly (Independent): Yes.
Rohan Laxmanalal (Animal Justice Party): Yes.
Ellie Robertson (Sustainable Australia): Yes.
Courtney Buckley (Greens): Yes.
Jason Yat-Sen Li (Labor): See question 5.
7. Will you advocate for the NSW state government to bring forward its net zero emissions target from 2050, to render it compatible with the IPCC’s goal of restricting temperature increases to 1.5C? Yes/No
Elizabeth Farrelly (Independent): Yes.
Rohan Laxmanalal (Animal Justice Party): Yes.
Ellie Robertson (Sustainable Australia): Yes.
Courtney Buckley (Greens): Yes.
Jason Yat-Sen Li (Labor):
- NSW Labor’s bill legislates at least a 50% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to net emissions in the year 2005 by 2030.
- It is guided by the principle that action to address climate change should be taken as early as possible to minimise its cost and adverse impact.
- This bill would be the first legislated commitment for NSW and cements our commitment to taking action on climate change.
8. Do you think coal has a future in NSW? Yes/No
Elizabeth Farrelly (Independent): No.
Rohan Laxmanalal (Animal Justice Party): No.
Ellie Robertson (Sustainable Australia): No.
Courtney Buckley (Greens):
Jason Yat-Sen Li (Labor):
- Australia and our major trading partners are all moving towards cheaper, cleaner, renewable power.
- At the same time, coal will continue to be an important part of our energy mix and export coal – which constitutes over 90 percent of the coal mined in Australia – will continue to be a major industry.
- Metallurgical coal will play an important role in steelmaking, given that “green” steel made from hydrogen is being developed with a 10+ year horizon.
- Mining in NSW is more than just coal – and there are enormous opportunities for minerals mining and value adding as part of greater battery and renewable energy use.
- As our energy mix changes, it is crucial for governments to partner with industry and the community to ensure we take full advantage of the high-paying job opportunities created by the renewable energy industries.
9. In response to the 32% annual increase in petrol prices, KPMG chief economist Brendan Rynne was quoted in the SMH (27/1/22) as saying “When you get an increase in the price of oil, it gets passed through to every business and every consumer – that’s why price increases in oil act like an increase in taxes.” He went on to say that Australia’s dependence on foreign oil is driving the sharp nation-wide increase in inflation. Do you agree that increased government investment in EV infrastructure would improve Australia’s sovereign energy capacity and, in consequence, reduce inflation? Yes/No
Elizabeth Farrelly (Independent): Yes.
Rohan Laxmanalal (Animal Justice Party): Yes.
Ellie Robertson (Sustainable Australia): Yes.
Courtney Buckley (Greens): No.
Jason Yat-Sen Li (Labor):
- NSW Labor welcomes the state government’s measures to encourage electric vehicle take-up and investment in infrastructure.
- Australia currently has one of the lowest rates of electric car ownership in the world.
- The electric vehicle industry is an opportunity for local manufacturing in Australia and to bring down our emissions and air pollution.
- While Australia’s sovereign energy capacity is a matter for the Federal Government, we note that cost of living pressures are making life harder for families across Sydney and NSW.
- Electric vehicles must be affordable for working families – the option must be available for ordinary drivers, not just those who can afford it.
10. What is the most urgent climate-related issue in NSW, and how will you address this if you win the by-election?
Elizabeth Farrelly (Independent): End coal mining
Rohan Laxmanalal (Animal Justice Party): Animal Agriculture is a leading cause of climate catastrophe and is most urgent because the solution is already available on our supermarket shelves in the form of plant based options. If I win the by-election I will engage with various bodies in the health, environmental, education and media space to ensure this simple message gets through.
Ellie Robertson (Sustainable Australia): Land clearing including forests and natural habitats. Phasing out coal mining (including no new coal mines or expansions) is also very important issue.
Courtney Buckley (Greens): Reducing emissions across the entire economy by working with the community to push government and the opposition to make this their priority.
Jason Yat-Sen Li (Labor):
- Labor is committed to legislating emissions reductions of 50% by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050 with clear principles of how this will be undertaken.
- Labor is also committed to establishing an independent Net Zero Commission which will develop the plan and monitor progress and hold government accountable.
- Labor currently has a bill before the parliament to do this.
11. What climate change policy is the most important for the NSW Government to adopt in the next parliamentary term? Why?
Elizabeth Farrelly (Independent): Zero carbon by 2030
Rohan Laxmanalal (Animal Justice Party): Animal Agriculture is a leading cause of climate catastrophe and is most important because the solution is already available on our supermarket shelves in the form of plant based options.
Ellie Robertson (Sustainable Australia): Our focus on climate change policy would include the following points:
– Act on climate change and contribute to staying below 1.5 degrees global temperature rise compared to pre-industrial levels.
– Support international agreements to lower greenhouse gas emissions including:
– A minimum target of net zero emissions by 2050
– A preferred target of net zero emissions by 2035
– Reduce emissions by at least 50 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030
– Fund and subsidise research and development into renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency initiatives
– Adopt a renewable energy target (RET) in line with our commitment on zero net emissions
– Impose a moratorium on all new coal mines in Australia
– Impose a moratorium on all new fracking, including for coal seam gas (also see Energy policy)
– Phase out fossil fuel subsidies
– Manage Australia’s native forests so they increase in both quantity and quality. This will help to naturally alleviate carbon emissions
For a full list of our policies see: www.sustainableaustralia.org.au/policies
Courtney Buckley (Greens): To embed climate change considerations into the heart of every government decision.
Jason Yat-Sen Li (Labor):
- Labor’s Climate Change Emissions Target Bill seeks to make a commitment to the people of NSW that no matter who is in government, or who is the Minister, NSW will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2050.
- The Bill seeks to give certainty to communities, businesses and our mining, energy and manufacturing industries. We urgently need certainty for these communities so that we can plan for an equitable future alongside them.
- Currently, the state’s net zero carbon emissions by 2050 target, and its 50 per cent reduction in carbon emissions on 2005 levels by 2030 target are merely aspirational. All this legislation seeks to do is make those carbon emissions reduction targets law.
- These targets are the same as the government has committed to. If they are truly committed, they should support this.
- The NSW Government has the opportunity to support this bill and make a commitment to tackling climate change.
