A real alternative: a truly independent voice dedicated to our community.

I spent my career caring for children with serious neurological disorders at the Royal Children’s Hospital. I was head of the neurology department and led a research team to develop innovative new treatments. My job was important and rewarding.

But as a doctor and mother I found that I could no longer stand by and witness the Morrison government’s failure on all the things that matter. The local MP, Josh Frydenberg, and Scott Morrison have had more than a decade to act on the enormous threat of climate change. They have let us down. And they have broken their promise to create an independent anti-corruption commission.

As your community Independent candidate, I am committed to:

• urgent action on climate change;
• a strong economy that benefits from the transition to renewable energy;
• an anti-corruption commission to stop the rorts, pork-barrelling and corruption in politics;
• equality, safety and respect for women;
• the just and fair treatment of asylum seekers and vulnerable minorities.

Josh Frydenberg votes the same way as Barnaby Joyce on every important matter: climate action, an anti-corruption commission, and workplace protections for women. His actions do not reflect the values of the Kooyong community.

Kooyong deserves far better. If you support climate change action, a prosperous economy based on renewable energy, and support for an independent anti-corruption commission, then Vote 1 Monique Ryan. As an Independent, I will always do what is right for our community, with honesty, integrity and courage.

Championing better standards of leadership and parliamentary representation.

Recent times have seen our communities living though the most challenging few years since World War 2. The ever-increasing climate crisis resulted in unparalleled bushfires and more recently unprecedent flooding. The pandemic has challenged us all as individuals and as families, and all our institutions including governments.

Throughout these admittedly challenging times, the Morrison Government has demonstrated a stunning failure of leadership, lack of integrity, poor ministerial standards of governance, failed communications strategies and damage to our international reputation.

I am standing in the seat of Kooyong to champion better standards of leadership and parliamentary representation. I will bring experience, integrity and professionalism to representing the electorate as a Labor member.

My experience as an environmental and social justice activist began in my student days. I bring many years of professional experience as a physician, geriatrician, manager, Board Director and Public Health Official in Victoria, in the Northern Territory and overseas. I am deeply interested in climate change, international relations, recognition and justice for First Nations Peoples, a socially and environmentally productive and sustainable economy, increasing woman’s safety in the home and at work and increased integrity in all processes of government as well of course – health and aged care services.

Locally, I represent the strong policies Labor brings to this election. These include climate change, growing the economy justly and sustainably with productive investment in child care as a universal entitlement for working parents, action on criminalising wage theft affecting especially young people and women, increasing local manufacturing by establishing a $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, free TAFE for industries with skill shortages, more university places and further measures to ensure women’s safety in the home and at work.

On climate change, Labor has a suite of policies with full economic modelling under the heading of Powering Australia. These include Rewiring the Nation, an Electric Vehicle strategy, Solar Banks, Community Batteries and reform of the carbon credit market. These will mean lower emissions, cheaper power prices and increases to employment with sustainable jobs especially in the regions.

Labor committed to a Federal Anti-Corruption Commission early 2018. The last three years have confirmed that only a Labor government can and will deliver it.

Labor is also committed to Closing the Gap and Reconciliation, the Uluru statement of the Heart, enshrining a First Nations Voice to the Parliament in the Constitution, establishing a national process for Treaty and Truth Telling overseen by a Makarrata Commission, strengthening First Nations Economic and job opportunities and empowering First Nations people to care and protect our lands and waters.

Labor will increase funding to the to ABC and establish a 5 year funding agreement so freeing the ABC from vicious funding cuts associated with 3 year funding agreements as seen with this Coalition government.

An advocate for both human and animal rights

Rachael is an advocate for both human and animal rights, a resident of inner Naarm/Melbourne who believes that Government policies need to reflect and support our diverse community, and ensure the protection of animals and our environment for future generations.

Having worked in the tourism industry across three continents, Rachael is a passionate global citizen who wants to protect the amazing country we live in. With first-hand experience in dealing with adverse global events in her work, she knows the severe impact that the climate emergency will have on the Australian people, wildlife and economy if the causes of climate change are not addressed. Rachael is clear on what needs to be done: immediate action and innovative solutions in order to reach net-zero emissions by 2035 and restore her region’s rich biodiversity.

If elected, Rachael will work to introduce legislation to ban fracking and phase out fossil fuels; support industries to transition to plant-based alternatives and renewable energy; and protect native forests, waterways and First Nations sacred sites.

She will work towards legislating bans on live animal export, animal testing and factory farming; and she will be campaigning to end the cruel use of animals for sport or entertainment.

This contribution is copied with permission from the website of the Animal Justice Party at https://vic.animaljusticeparty.org/meet_our_candidates

I’m standing for Kooyong to offer our children a better future

I’ve lived in Kooyong for 25 years and currently live in Kew with my partner and our puppy. I’ve worked as an employment lawyer for ten years.

I’m standing for federal parliament because I think our government has lost its way, especially on climate. Governments are responsible for the safety and welfare of their people. This government is unwilling to address the climate crisis, which threatens to change everything that we know and love about our lifestyle.

I’ve spoken to primary school aged children who are worried about climate change, who say they’re scared for their future. This isn’t right – it’s not the world that we should be leaving for them.

Our government has approved 114 new coal and gas projects when we know – and they know – that these developments put us on a one-way street to global destruction. While wealth may cushion the blow for some, in the end, if we don’t change now, there will be nowhere to hide. For anyone.

I also want to see greater integrity and humanity from our leaders and in our wider community. For too long, we’ve seen our leaders pursue power for power’s sake, with little regard for the interests of society.  The worst example of this is the indefinite detention of innocent refugees by politicians who want to win votes.  This is not who we are.

Finally, I worry about inequality:  for the first time in 100 years we’re raising a generation who will be worse off than their parents. The gender pay gap is not closing, and our First Nations brothers and sisters endure ongoing discrimination.

I will make a difference because the Greens have a plan

If just a few hundred people change their vote, we can win Kooyong and hold the balance of power.  There we’ll push the next government to go further and faster to phase out coal and gas industries, and create thousands of jobs rolling out renewables. 

We’ll also introduce a strong anti-corruption commission and push for political donations reform.  We’ll end offshore processing and the detention of asylum seekers; address housing so that our young people can afford somewhere to live, and push for a treaty with our First Nations peoples.

These reforms are just the start – but they’ll take us towards a fairer society and a secure future for our children.

Kooyong Candidates Forum, 27 April 2022.

Report by Lighter Footprints

On Wednesday 27 April, a packed hall of around 500 people (and a further 200 on Facebook Live) heard how candidates Dr Peter Lynch (Labor), Mr Piers Mitchem (Greens) and Dr Monique Ryan (Independent) would represent the voters of Kooyong, with a particular focus on climate change action.

The forum was organised by local community climate action group Lighter Footprints. One of the few spare seats at Hawthorn Town Hall that night was reserved for The Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, Member for Kooyong. Despite Mr Frydenberg’s absence, there was much media interest with both Channel 7 and Channel 9 there to cover the event.

Co-convenor Lynn Frankes expressed disappointment in Mr Frydenberg’s failure to explain his absence to the organisers. Notwithstanding Mr Frydenberg’s assertions earlier in the week, Ms Frankes assured the audience that Lighter Footprints had “no connection to the Labor, Greens or Independent campaigns.” She pointed to the empty chair as symbolic of Mr Frydenberg’s seemingly “… unwillingness to engage with, and be accountable to, the voters of Kooyong.”

Moderator Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, Strategic Director at Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia commented, “This doesn’t happen in every electorate, on a Wednesday night, to have hundreds of people turn up to support democracy, to talk about climate change. Go Kooyong!”

The two secondary student speakers, Mia Harrison in Year 11 at Melbourne Girls College and Emily Harle in Year 12 at Strathcona Girls Grammar School attracted loud applause. Both spoke about their love for the environment, their school programs and why they were involved in climate change action.

Mia explained why she joined the School Strike movement. “If individual people band together, maybe our political leaders will listen and it’s possible to make a difference. However, there’s only so much us kids can do. We’re not old enough to vote and we have to yell at the Old Treasury building to be listened to.”

Emily, a student of geography and economics asked “Why do we as an extremely wealthy country repeatedly fail to do our bit to reduce climate change?” The shift away from fossil fuels is “… an opportunity to harness our wealth and vast resources to secure our future prosperity” to become a “world leader in renewable energy.” Government should “… lead the charge for a better tomorrow”, and develop a plan that “… all Australians can unite behind to secure a better future for the generations to come.”

Labor candidate, Dr Peter Lynch reminded the audience of Labor’s past achievements in climate change policy. He highlighted its Powering Australia program released in December 2021 featuring rewiring the nation, solar banks and community batteries. Labor would “legislate the 2030 and 2050 targets” and “restore national leadership on climate change.”

The Greens candidate Mr Piers Mitchem expressed frustration as to how the Australian government could act against the scientific advice and continue to “… open more coal mines and gas wells.” If the Greens had the balance of power, they would move to place a moratorium on new coal and gas, end thermal coal by the end of the decade and ensure a just transition for workers. He finished by saying, “Let’s make our kids proud and shoot for the stars.”

Independent Dr Monique Ryan emphasised the importance of community and the “… extraordinary opportunity to change the course of Australian climate history.” She is excited about the economic opportunities offered by the export of renewable hydrogen, ammonia, and steel. Under her electric vehicle policy, she has committed “… to legislate on vehicle emissions standards, provide a $5000 rebate for electric vehicles, and support the manufacture of electric batteries in Australia, providing jobs in regional communities.”

Watch an edited version of the event (1:11:45) at youtube.com/watch?v=6w23OUIemiw or the unedited event (1:32:32) on Facebook Live at LighterFootprintsMelbourne/videos/747944009919416

Thank you to Julian Meehan for the photographs and to Ray Peck for preparing this report on behalf of Lighter Footprints