Wednesday, 11 August

An audience of 40 members of the Ballarat community gathered to hear candidates for the upcoming federal election present their parties' policies on climate change and the environment. Catherine King, the sitting ALP member and Belinda Coates, the Greens candidate attended and answered questions from the floor.

Concerningly, Mark Banwell and Jim Rainey, candidates for the Liberal Party and Family First respectively, failed to show up or provide answers to written questions provided to them prior to the event.

"The fact that Mark Banwell didn't show up shows very clearly that the Liberal party is not interested in acting on climate change," said Andrew Bray, BREAZE Community Campaigner. "Mr. Banwell is on the record as a climate sceptic and clearly doesn't understand the dangers it poses to our economy and environmental health."

Discussion centred on the issue of whether the ALP would introduce an emissions trading scheme in their next term if re-elected.

"We can't start moving ourselves to a low-carbon economy without a price on carbon," continued Mr. Bray. "Its essential that the Labor Party starts to walk its talk and just get on with it. Saying they understand the urgency of climate change and then delaying for another three years is not a tenable position."

The event was organised by Ballarat Environment Network (BEN) and Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions (BREAZE).