In November 2007, with enormous enthusiasm, Australian voters elected a Kevin Rudd-led Labor government in a landslide, with a huge mandate to implement an emissions trading scheme (ETS) to deal with anthropogenic climate change.

Australians have now experienced some of the devastating impacts of what a global heating of just one degree looks like. We must decarbonise our economy, and the earlier we do this, the less painful and costly it is going to be.

According to former police officer and federal member for Richmond Justine Elliot signs that are being used by Nationals candidate for Richmond Matthew Fraser are both ‘illegal’ and ‘dangerous’.

Federal Labor is preparing to launch its energy policy – some six months out of a likely election date – with an expected attack on the Coalition government’s efforts to support new investment in coal generation, and details finally of its own plan to achieve its target of 50 per cent renewables by 2030.

Successful Labor candidate for the seat of Page, Casino resident Patrick Deegan, may not have had the high profile of his fellow contender but what he does have in spades is a passion for helping the disadvantaged.