Under the dark shadow of the natural disaster, Green Candidate for Richmond, Mandy Nolan, will officially launch her campaign for the federal seat of Richmond.
Three launch events will take place across the electorate, focusing on stopping the climate catastrophe and offering hope, inspiration, and a little light relief in these most desperate times.
‘We need to face up to what is causing our climate catastrophe,’ said community activist, opinion writer and comedian Nolan. ‘After the fires of 2019, and now these devastating unprecedented floods, we need to stop coal and gas, immediately reduce our emissions and end climate violence. Our two key issues are climate and housing. Now they’ve intersected with thousands of locals losing their homes and businesses to these floods. So it’s never been more important to vote Green for Richmond.’
Clare’s take on climate change a joke
Nolan says she had to stifle a scoff earlier in the week when Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Jason Clare was in Mullumbimby to look at the post-flood off-the-scale housing crisis. When asked about the relationship between the catastrophic floods and the climate crisis, Mr Clare said: ‘There’s only one party that is serious about doing something on climate change. That’s the Labor Party.’
‘What a joke,’ says Nolan.
‘There’s only one party they can deliver on climate and that is the Greens. As long as the major parties keep approving coal and gas and take dirty donations Labor can’t be trusted with climate. They need the Greens to hold them to account.’
To hold them to account Nolan says she needs a five per cent swing in the Richmond electorate to join Greens leader Adam Bandt in the Lower House to effect real change. ‘This election will be a close one. But, in balance of power, we could have the most powerful voice in the country,’ she said. ‘Labor will continue to support coal and gas. But, with the Greens in balance of power, we’ll stop Labor from continuing to invest in new coal and gas. We need to do this. For the safety of our region, our future, our planet and our kids’.
Nolan guarantees the three events will be inspiring and entertaining. ‘I am all about inclusive politics that aren’t dry and boring. Politics shouldn’t just be for men in suits. It’s for us! So let’s make it accessible, informative and powerful.’
The political circus
The first circus-themed event on Monday 21 March had a mission to ‘Send Our Mandy to the Political Circus’ is at the North Byron Hotel in Byron Bay.
Hosted by ringmaster Joel Salom, it featured Greens Leader Adam Bandt and Greens NSW Senate Candidate David Shoebridge, along with a Welcome to Country from Delta Kay, a balance of power spectacular by Spaghetti Circus, a power ballad dance spectacular by The Cassettes, a wild impro song creation by comedian Jennny Wynter and beats by DJ Pob. Tickets start at $40 with canapés included.
On Tuesday, 22 March, stand up comic and political satirist Peter Berner will be in robust but witty conversation with Mandy Nolan and Greens Leader Adam Bandt. The event will occur at Regent Theatre in Murwillumbah in the heart of the town above the Emergency Hub. Tickets are priced at $30.
On Sunday, 27 March, Greens in the House will take place at Bangalow Bowlo with the rockstars of the Green movement – Senator & Chair of Australian Greens Party Room Sarah Hanson-Young and former Greens Senator for WA, activist and author Scott Ludlam. They will be in conversation with host Mick O’Regan, Greens MP Tamara Smith and Mandy Nolan.
Tickets are $30 and are on sale now and bookings are essential.
Event Link: https://www.mandy4richmond.
Full policy initiatives: https://greens.org.au/platform
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