The environment will be a major issue in the seat of Gilmore at the upcoming Federal election and the heat was on Liberal candidate Andrew Constance at a community forum this week in Kiama. 

Organised by 350.org Australia, the Australian Conservation Foundation and Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, the Gilmore Candidates Forum at Kiama Uniting Church gave incumbent MP Fiona Phillips, Mr Constance, Community Independent Kate Dezarnaulds and The Greens’ nominee, Debbie Killian, a chance to address a crowd of 145 locals.

Kiama Uniting Church Reverend Kath Merrifield moderated the debate, which was civilised until a few rabble-rousers who snuck in towards the end were asked to leave for being rude and disruptive.

“It was high spirited and passionate,” she said. 

“It was certainly focused on climate and environmental issues, so questions about wind farms and nuclear power and logging, all of those sorts of issues were covered.” 

Rev Merrifield was also part of a faith-based delegation organised by the ARRCC that met Mr Constance at a separate meeting on Monday before the candidates forum and she has concerns about Peter Dutton’s environmental policies if he wins government from Anthony Albanese.

She said Mr Constance was favouring information from a Frontier Economics report that was commissioned by the Liberal Party over recommendations put forward by the CSIRO.

“The CSIRO is a highly reputable body, and it seemed to me he was questioning their integrity rather than addressing the urgent need for action to address climate change,” she said. 

Reverend Kath Merrifield moderating the debate: Photo: Cathy Russell

“In our meeting he said something very similar about the integrity of the Climate Change Authority, which is another impartial organisation that had also put out a report of its own, showing that going down the nuclear pathway would hugely increase our carbon emissions as it would take so long to build and would prolong the use of coal and gas in the meantime. 

“It seems Mr Constance doesn’t like the facts: nuclear will both cost people more and damage our climate.”

Mr Constance told The Bugle that Frontier Economics had years of experience in energy economics, and understood the necessary and correct assumptions to work out the price of nuclear energy.

“The Liberals commissioned leading and independent advisory firm Frontier Economics to cost emissions-free nuclear at several current coal-fired power generation sites,” he said.

“Australia cannot gamble its future energy needs on a '100% renewables only' policy, which has been found to be 40% more costly than nuclear given the huge investment required in new transmissions assets across farmland and national parks. 

“My focus is the devastating impact Labor's policies are having on electricity and energy prices in this cost of living crisis. Locals are in serious trouble.

“I am the only candidate standing with a plan to tackle the cost of living crisis, whilst the remaining candidates show no regard to the impact of their climate policies on the welfare of locals.”

Ms Phillips countered by saying: “It’s interesting that Constance didn’t mention nuclear in his opening statement, and only spoke about the Liberals’ nuclear energy plan when questioned directly about it. It was most definitely the elephant in the room.

Community members at the forum at Kiama Uniting Church. Photo: Mick McGrath 

“I think the Libs are finally realising that switched-on Australians don’t want to go down the nuclear path, and the topic seems to have completely disappeared from their talking points.”

““It was fantastic to see so many Kiama locals out supporting climate action and the need to swiftly transition to renewable energy to put pressure on electricity prices, to create local jobs and to ensure we meet our target of 82 per cent renewable electricity by 2030.

“I believe the majority of Kiama residents are smart enough to see right through the ridiculous offshore wind scare campaign being peddled by Dutton and Constance. They understand the science behind renewables, and they know we need to get more energy into the grid to reduce electricity costs for families and businesses.” 

Ms Dezernaulds said when she is out and about talking to community members, the environment is top of mind in the electorate.

“The priorities for our campaign are people being able to afford the basics, people being able to protect what they love about this place, a just energy transition, integrity in politics and infrastructure suited for our regional population,” she said.

“I really focused (at the forum) on the opportunity for people to be able to reduce their household bills and their small business expenses with the opportunities of the energy transition and just where the government policy has seen the electorate of Gilmore falling too far behind.

“I think the opposition to wind farms is concentrated in a vocal minority and is ideologically driven. Whipping up fear within the community without a proposal on the table is politically motivated.”

Ms Killian said The Greens had a really clear set of “quite ambitious policies”, not just about environmental issues.

“The transition to renewables is a big thing not only for Gilmore but for everywhere.

“We need to look very carefully at offshore wind. Once we get a proposal that’s environmentally viable it would be great to have, because of the jobs. We know that with good, careful planning they can work without destroying the ocean,” she said, while adding that The Greens would oppose any plan which harms wildlife such as whales and sea birds.

Bob Hayward, a committee member from Repower Shoalhaven, which is part of the South East Climate Alliance which helped organise the event, said taxpayers were tired of bearing the cost burden for infrastructure while coal companies enjoyed massive tax breaks.

“There has been a lack of pace on climate change, the urgency is now,” he said.

“A number of the candidates got applause for their commitment to seek ways to accelerate it. People are rightly anxious about the cost of living and climate change is a major contributor in terms of insurance costs and the damage done to public infrastructure which we have to pay for with our rates and taxes.”