If you’re one of the many people who are worried about rising power bills, the constant cycle of destructive weather and the ensuing environmental destruction, it’s time we call it: we can't continue opening coal and gas mines as we head into further climate crises.

Candidate for Cunningham Jess Whittaker said it’s not right that the current Labor government has approved 10 coal and gas mines since May 2022 and there’s another 22 waiting for approval.

“We need to stop this denial,” Ms Whittaker said. “We can’t continue to open new coal and gas mines as we head for the recovery of one of the strongest cyclones to land near Brisbane.

“Even as we speak the Federal Minister, Tanya Plibersek, is considering Woodside Petroleum’s North West Shelf gas project. This project, if approved, will extend the life of the dirty and polluting fossil fuel project by 50 years. This project runs counter to our best climate science and will aid the accelerating extreme weather disasters we are experiencing right now.”

Meanwhile the current Liberal / National coalition is campaigning for seven nuclear power plants throughout Australia, by 2050.

“In June last year the ANU’s Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions said that all coal fired power stations will have closed down by 2037. And they have found that it’s unlikely that nuclear power plants, if they are built, will be able to replace ageing coal fired power stations by 2037. So this is a policy that doesn’t answer the fundamental question of how will you and I be able to afford power which won’t be available.

“The Liberal Coalition policy just doesn’t make sense.

“We need to move as quickly as possible to sustainable, renewable energy sources, such as wind farms, large solar farms as well as large batteries for storage.

“We desperately need to lower our power bills by moving towards reliable, clean energy, subsidise solar panels and batteries for homes and businesses, and begin to create thousands of jobs that will be needed in these new sustainable energy businesses.

“Both major parties take millions in coal & gas corporations donations to fund their election campaigns. We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. 

“This election, you have a once-in-a-generation chance to get strong climate action.”

For more information contact Jess Whittaker or phone 0491 316 123.