2010 – Two elections. One big opportunity.
In 2010, both the state and federal governments will be going to the polls. Our politicians are going to be trying to impress you. Make them work for it. Give them an agenda that’s going to turn things around for our environment.
Here’s what’s at the top of our list:
Rescue Our Rivers: deliver a river rescue package to restore Victoria’s rivers to health
Replace Hazelwood power station with clean energy by 2012
A green makeover for one Million Homes: deliver a program to retrofit one million Victorian homes for energy and water efficiency over the next 5 years
Environment Victoria is running strong campaigns to make sure that both elections deliver big time for Victoria’s environment. Support us to turn things around for the environment in 2010.
Here are some election basics to get you started:
The Victorian state election is scheduled for 27 November 2010. The federal election is likely to be held sometime before that – possibly in September.
One year out from the state election, Environment Victoria, The Wilderness Society, Friends of the Earth and the Victorian National Parks Association released a document outlining seven key areas that require urgent action by all parties contesting November’s state election. It’s called Turning it Around
Green groups put parties on notice. Find out more about Turning it Around
Climate change and water issues have been important in determining the outcomes of the last state and federal elections. However we need to take the next step and make the environment a central focus of all parties contesting the elections.
Environment Victoria tracks the performance of the state government, and nearer to elections, the state opposition and other parties also. We’ll be releasing a report card on assessing all parties environment platforms closer to the state election.
We’ll also be working on the ground in targeted areas to ensure that communities are engaged on environment issues.
We don’t endorse any political parties or candidates. We will commentate publicly on the environment platforms of all parties but we will – as always – leave it up to you to decide who you want to vote for.
The bigger picture
The vast majority of policy commitments in Australian politics are made during election time. Political parties spend the three months ahead of each election making promises, and then spend the next three or four years delivering – or sometimes, failing to deliver – those promises.
We work to ensure that environmental issues are at the front of any aspiring politician’s mind and of the public’s awareness at election time. We do this by monitoring election promises and rating political parties on their environmental platform. We work behind the scenes to lobby politicians and party decision makers. But most importantly, we work with you in the community to identify and support environmental champions, and assist local groups and individuals to speak up in protection of the environment.
This year we’ll be working across the state ahead of both elections in targeted communities.
Do you want to help us? Send us an email to let us know
More Resources
As well as running campaigns on particular issues, we also monitor the environmental performance of the Government as a whole.
In 2007 and 2008 we released a report, with other Victorian and national environment groups, tracking the state government’s performance against their election promises on the environment.
See the 2008 report here
See the 2007 report here
We also make submissions to the state government budget process and comment on state budgets. Read our 2009 state budget submission here
And have released the people’s climate White Paper, the Community Action Plan for our Climate. Read this White Paper here
As well as a case for zero emissions and water saving homes and neighbourhoods. Read the Towards Climate Safe Homes publication here
As we head into next year’s elections, we’re going to be working hard to keep our political leaders on their toes and delivering for the environment.
Keep a firm eye on this page for the latest buzz and how you can get involved.