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
You forget Mandy the greens voted against a carbon trading scheme under the rude government. How about tackling the real climate deniers rather than taking votes away from other anti Tory parties. As a comedian she should see the humour of her rhetoric about criticisms of labor but no takes on the coalition. Life of Brian humour forgetting who are the real opposition.
Rod, you have forgotten why the Greens voted in 2009 against PM Kevin07’s CPRS.
You can find why on Greens website but to assist you and other Echo readers , I copied across the following for your information –
“If the Greens care so much about climate change, why did you knock off Labor’s CPRS in 2009?” Here’s the answer:
2009: THE CPRS WAS BAD CLIMATE POLICY
We voted against the CPRS because it was bad policy that would have locked in failure to take action on climate change.
According to Treasury modelling, under the CPRS there would have been no reduction in emissions for 25 years. It gave billions in handouts to coal companies and big polluters, while it locked in emissions targets that failed the science.
It would not have led to any change in behaviour by big polluters, while any future attempt to strengthen the scheme would have resulted in billion dollar compensation payouts to big polluters.
It gave a false impression it was going to actually do something – in fact, Kevin Rudd’s own climate change advisor warned it could be better to go back to the drawing board.
The Greens joined with PM Julia to bring into existence the ETS ( Emissions Trading Scheme ) in 2012. I have copied
across the following as well –
2010: GREENS-LED CLIMATE ACTION
Just months later, we worked with a more collaborative Gillard Labor government and Independent MPs to introduce world-leading climate legislation. We fought for – and achieved – a much better outcome.
This Greens-led package included a price on carbon that worked to reduce emissions, the establishment of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. It drove down pollution and has driven over $20 billion into over 600 energy projects around the country.
And what happened? Pollution went down when the carbon price was in force. This was one of the few precious times in our history where emissions actually reduced — and, in spite of conservative fear-mongering, the sky didn’t fall in.
It’s still regarded as an example of world-leading emissions reduction legislation, and remains the basis of Greens carbon reduction policy today.
Bad policy doesn’t deserve to get a free pass just because it has ‘ALP’ in front of it.
Australia is a naturally conservative constituency with a sense of “ she’ll be right – our combined luck and isolation will shield us”. I’d suggest it is also quite venal and easy prey for the powerful propaganda of a powerful industry and a powerful conservative media monopoly. We also have a long tradition of believing the easy life comes from digging up our wealth from the ground.
Revolutionary change was never going to happen overnight. The original scheme was far from perfect but in politics context is a big thing. The Labor government was riding high and, with a landslide victory, was clearly seen as having a mandate for change – even the previous Howard government had recognised the need to (reluctantly) make climate action part of the policies they took to the election. If the CPRS had passed in 2009 and allowed to bed down before subsequent elections, the Australian population would have been introduced to the concept of a need for amelioration, they could not be so easily convinced about a “great big new tax on everything” nor that they had been Julied to.
In terms of attitudinal change 2007 -2009 was Australia’s moment in history. The electorate had shown a rare tolerance for more decency in all the areas of climate action, industrial relations and refugees – and there are always opportunities to gain ground once reform has been initially accepted.
Opportunistic “leaders”, such as Tony Abbott, would have had far less success in making climate policy such a potent weapon. Australian climate policy has not been well served by the way that, from this brief window onwards, it has been such electoral poison and the downfall of a succession of PMs and opposition leaders.
25 years before we saw any benefits from the CPRS? Unfortunately we are getting close to this point now with nothing but a couple of years of modest reduction and the whole policy area turning into the hottest political potato in Australia’s recent history.
Even now after we’ve seen most of eastern Australia on fire – including rainforests – terrible droughts and floods, a pragmatic LNP is trying to placate the growing angst with the smoke and mirrors of “technology not taxes” trying to reassure us there will be no sacrifices involved and their powerful supporters that there will be BAU. The frightening thing is, with all the historical factors still in place they are likely to get away with it.
I wish Mandy luck but I hope the Echo gives equal prominence, free advertising and supportive coverage to each Richmond candidate as they launch their campaigns.
Good luck Mandy.
The Mandy is 100% bang on topic about ALP and climate policy.
We have a Lib/Nat/Lab Fossil Fuel Cartel that is captured by $’sFossil Fuel Industry bribes and donations.
The Lib/Nat/Lab Fossil Fuel Cartel are on a unity ticket for continuing Coal mining and Coal exporting projects until the last$ can be extracted and on a unity ticket for new gas projects.
Neither Lib/Nat or Lab have a climate policy that follows what the science, UN/ IPCC says needs to be done to limit global heating and the related destructive events – Net Zero Emissions by 2030; Zero Emissions by 2035; NO new Fossil Fuel projects.
The Greens with their ‘Renew Australia 2030’ climate policy, is the only party that has a climate policy that follows the science.
Oops, a correction to my scribble.
“Net Zero Emissions by 2030”, should read, 75% Emissions reduction by 2030
“Zero Emissions by 2035”, should read, Net Zero Emissions by 2035
We could do with a Gillard return as a ‘shake up’ but it will not happen . . . Mandy’s
got the vote.
You go girl!! The launches sound amazing! Wish I could be there with my support.
To the Moon Alice
Joachim do any of your day’s or years incude
Zero Emmisions .. ? Unless you have been living
In a cave Joachim ? Thats what a Hydrocarbon free life would resemble… just hypocrites !!
The Greens , all these events that mandy is organising and attending using all the modern amenities and facilities all made from fossil fuels
Happy to take advantage of when it suits ..
Mr Brandt ? How is he traveling to the north coast ?
Hanson young ? Are they going to jump on a solar
Powered boat ? That to would have been made
From hydrocarbons.. !! My guess both will be
Enjoying taxpayer’s business class seats .. oh by the way politician’s get a 25k travel allowance
Per year, and since we are in a climate emergency as suggested surely they would take a stance
and refrain from flying ? Look it matters little
Because even if they dont use any of the 25k
Travel allowance they still get the money anyhow..
How good is capitalism Mr Brandt… will stay accross these travel arrangements regarding the
Greens ..
🥱🥱🥱😴
Yes we’ll all stop eating, breathing, wearing clothes (even in winter), travelling anywhere except by Shank’s pony and barefoot – just to avoid charges of hypocrisy. This argument really is very puerile Barrow.
And I don’t know how the Greens got to the North Coast but I doubt they hired a 🚁
Whoa there Barrow old son. Tangents, off piste, you outdoing even yourself and surely takes some doing.
Barrow my man, are you deliberately being obtuse or does it just come naturally to you.
This has been pointed out to you once before but I guess repetition is again called for to get something into your noggin.
‘Old’ technology does not suddenly stop, to be replaced by ‘new’ technology.
So it all quite logical to use the ‘old’ whilst replacing with the ‘new’. That shouldn’t be too hard to grasp, even for you Barrow old son.
Do I need to point out to you again, I have rooftop solar, first installation was in 2008, added to in 2010, added to again, in 2016.
The result Barrow is that I am a Net Negative emissions – I export way more electrons to the Grid than what I might happen to pull from the Grid.
And Barrow you’ll be most happy to know that I quite happy to share my excess ‘green’ electrons with you, so you can do your bit in this Climate Emergency!
There will never be zero emissions Barrow & you know it so once again
you are taking up space that is useless. Our primal-minister wasn’t born
with wings so he – like any polly – gets about in comfort. Do you think
you’ve got it now? Meantime, Climate Action is more than just important
so may the best & most caring ‘party’ take over government when the
time comes.
You are the carbon they wish to reduce
Many thanks, Chris. Getting to know you & Co has been a pleasure.