What does Macquarie’s candidate for the federal election think about the natural world? After reading the Blue Mountains Conservation Society questionnaire, you may still be confused.
Blue Mountains Conservation Society has released the responses to their Federal Government questionnaire regarding Macquarie electorate candidates. The Society creates the questionnaire as a community service, but not everyone wants to participate. This time, less than half the candidates for the electorate answered the questionnaire.
Madi Maclean
Society president, Madi Maclean*, said it was the “lowest response rate for the Federal Government election environment questionnaire since we commenced this important initiative at the 2010 election”.
The environmental group, consisting of 900 members asked seven of eight candidates (the seven candidates with contact details) nine questions about environmental issues in the electorate.
She said, “We also asked them what their plans were for the environment if they were elected (personal conservation goals).”
Only three candidates replied: Susan Templeman, Greg Keightley (Animal Justice Party), Tony Hickey and Greg Keightley. The candidates that didn’t respond were from United Australia Party, Liberal Democratic Party, Liberal Party and Informed Medical Options Party.
“The low response to a federal election is particularly disappointing,” Ms Maclean stated.
“This means that the electorate won’t have any information about the policies and positions on critical issues like climate change, raising the Warragamba Dam Wall and protecting the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
At the 2019 federal government election, four of the five candidates answered the Society’s environment questionnaire.
“The Society believes that its federal government election questionnaire provides clear information about candidates’ positions on key environmental topics. It also helps in ensuring greater transparency, accountability, and we urge all candidates to participate in future elections.”
The three candidates who responded to the questionnaire were in agreement on most issues. They agreed to a stronger 2030 national emission target than the current target, financial support for transition communities from gas to renewables, and support the urgent development of climate action policy.
Active support was also given to the expansion of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, which would include all the additions to the national reserves and parks since 2000’s listing.
Responding candidates also supported the initiation a process for banning low-flying, non-essential helicopters (ie recreational flight) over wilderness areas in GBMWHA. All candidates expressed support for genuine consultation about the flight paths to Western Sydney Airport.
*The president for 2022 – Susan Crick – has had to resign due to health reasons.