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 Saturday, 27 November 2010. The federal election is scheduled for Saturday, 21 August 2010.
- 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.
Hazelwood owners want closure
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Australian Financial Review
International Power, owners of Hazelwood Power Station have claimed that they would rather close down the entire power station than just the two turbines that would likely be closed under...
moreHazelwood shutdown to cost millions: Brumby
Monday, 26 July 2010
The Age, Adam Morton
The Victorian government has promised to pay to shut down one-quarter of Australia's "dirtiest" power station by 2014 — part of a plan to cut the state's greenhouse...
morePlan to phase out Hazelwood power station
Monday, 26 July 2010
ABC News
The Victorian Government has announced plans to pursue the gradual shut down one of Australia's most polluting power stations.
The Government wants to shut down a quarter of production...
moreEnvironment Victoria welcomes green plan
Monday, 26 July 2010
9 News
Environment Victoria has praised the state government for committing to a 20 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
The Age newspaper says Premier John Brumby will release a climate...
moreSolar plan raided to pay for guzzlers
Sunday, 25 July 2010
The Age, Melissa Fyfe and Mark Metherell
Australia's renewable energy industry was reeling yesterday after discovering a $520million budget cut to low-emissions technology in the fine print of Julia Gillard...
moreBrumby lays down gauntlet on carbon
Monday, 26 July 2010
The Age, Adam Morton
The Victorian government will present itself as the national leader in tackling climate change by pledging to cut the state's greenhouse gas emissions by at least a fifth over the next...
moreGillard plan cops criticism
Friday, 23 July 2010
Ninemsn
The new plans for tackling climate change announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Friday have provoked mostly negative responses, not the least that of protester Bradley Smith who was arrested at her speech...
moreGood rains mean 10bn litre boost for Yarra
Friday, 23 July 2010
Richard Willingham, The Age
The health of Melbourne's Yarra River will be given a boost with the allocation of 10 billion litres of environmental water.
Solid winter rainfalls, more efficient...
moreGillard plan cops criticism
Friday, 23 July 2010
Yahoo!7
The new plans for tackling climate change announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Friday have provoked mostly negative responses, not the least that of protester Bradley Smith who was arrested at her speech...
moreCoalition campaigns to close Hazelwood
Monday, 12 July 2010
ABC News
A coalition of green groups has announced plans for a campaign to close the Hazelwood power station in Victoria's Latrobe...
more
Twitter
What’s your vision for Victoria?
Have your voice heard!
In 2010, both the state and federal governments go to the polls. And what better opportunity to put a little pressure on those pollies and get the policies we need for our environment.
A healthy environment and a safe future for all...
more
All I want for Christmas is a little less conversation and little more action
Mr Rudd and Mr Brumby!
Outside the Bella Centre at the opening of the Copenhagen Climate Summit there was a sign that simply said 'Blah, Blah, Blah'. I can't think of anything that more aptly frames the conference and its disappointing outcomes.
I don't know...
more
Environment Victoria's campaign highlights for the year
yep, there's a few...
It's never easy securing environmental victories, but we reckon we’ve had a pretty good year on the campaign trail. While we’re still not taking the critical big steps forward to reduce emissions, save our rivers and protect our...
more
Flickr
- Victoria: green and growing |
- Envirowatch 2008 |
- Envirowatch 2007 |
- The Quick Guide to our Community Climate Action Plan |
- Turning it around: a 2010 state election agenda |
- NEW REPORT! Fast-tracking Victoria’s clean energy future to replace Hazelwood Power Station |
- International Power Australia's submission on the CPRS Green Paper |
- One Million Homes: A 2010 energy and water efficiency campaign |
- Retro budget forgets climate change |
- One year out from the state election, green groups put parties on notice |
Nothing to see here. Keep on moving...
