With a week to go until the federal election, Newtown Climate reached out to candidates for the seat of Sydney with four questions about their climate policies. Unfortunately we have only received a response from one of the five candidates, but we will update this page as more responses are received.
Newtown is spread across the Sydney and Grayndler electorates, but with other local climate groups active in Grayndler we have focused on Sydney this time around. You can also use Build a Ballot to see where the parties stand on climate change and other key issues.
Question 1: With many people struggling with the current cost of living, actions that reduce household emissions – like installing rooftop solar, insulating homes and switching to efficient electric appliances – can also save households money. The Sydney electorate has one of the highest proportions of renters in the country; over 60% of people rent their homes and are at the mercy of landlords when it comes to these key decisions. What are your plans to support households in the electorate to reduce emissions and save money?
Rachel Evans – Socialist Alliance
We must implement policies that both reduce energy use and convert that use to renewable sources at the same time.
Building standards must be improved so that all homes are properly ventilated in summer and insulated in winter. Our neighbourhoods must increase in tree canopy to combat the urban heat island effect. Programs to support homeowners and strata buildings to install solar panels, batteries and reduce energy consumption should be greatly expanded.
We must mandate no new gas installations and provide support to convert gas to electric. Large savings can be made in switching to heat pumps for hot water.
Household energy bills will be much cheaper than at present if we switch to 100% solar and wind, as the unit cost of these sources has fallen well below fossil fuels. Reliability can be improved with battery and other forms of storage. Experts such as Dr Mark Diesendorf have shown how Australia can have a 100% renewable energy grid.
By 2030, transport emissions will be Australia’s highest single source of carbon pollution, and we know that we must cut car use by a half by that time. Fortunately, a big shift to public and active transport will reduce transport costs, and increase efficiency, safety and health.
Tanya Plibersek – Labor
Tanya Plibersek did not reply. Labor’s policies are published at this link.
Alex Xu – Liberal
Alex Xu did not reply. Liberal policies are published at this link.
Luc Velez – Greens
Luc Velez did not reply. Greens policies are published at this link.
Question 2: Local businesses can also benefit from reducing their energy bills and switching to more efficient modern technologies. What are your plans to support small businesses to reduce their emissions?
Rachel Evans – Socialist Alliance
Small businesses have a role to play in our climate response. In January we hit 1.7 degrees Celsius warming over pre-industrial levels, a global danger that must be stopped. We must sink carbon, not open up 33 new coal and gas mines, as the ALP have done in their current term.
Governments favour big businesses over small businesses through tax cuts for the big end of town, subsidies for big fossil fuel companies, a tax system for the rich, and minimal regulation on tax evasion for more profitable enterprises. Socialist Alliance calls for more support for smaller businesses, while maintaining that small businesses should not exploit their workforce or the environment for profits.
We call on the City of Sydney Council, one of the richest in the country, and the NSW government to provide free green energy to small businesses. They could provide green energy to the entire city with a mass solar panel roll out to all small businesses in the city. They don’t yet have the political will to do this. This is why Socialist Alliance is involved in campaign groups such as Rising Tide, Knitting Nannas and Extinction Rebellion. Our seat of Sydney candidate, Rachel Evans, was arrested at the Newcastle coal ports in November 2024, with 130 other climate activists to protest the influence of the coal and gas industry over our governments.
Tanya Plibersek – Labor
Tanya Plibersek did not reply. Labor’s policies are published at this link.
Alex Xu – Liberal
Alex Xu did not reply. Liberal policies are published at this link.
Luc Velez – Greens
Luc Velez did not reply. Greens policies are published at this link.
Question 3: Reducing private car dependence and increasing the number of trips made by walking, cycling and other forms of active transport is one of the most effective and immediate ways to improve air quality and reduce climate pollution. What are your plans to improve active transport infrastructure and ensure people can safely get around without a car if they choose to do so?
Rachel Evans – Socialist Alliance
We strongly agree with Newtown Climate on this point. Our NSW candidates are long-term sustainable transport campaigners, with Andrew Chuter and Peter Boyle taking a leading role for many years in the campaign against the WestConnex motorway. Rachel Evans has also been active in the community campaign for the North-South Eveleigh footbridge and is frequently seen in the area on her bright green electric cargo bike.
Socialist Alliance recognises that our car dependent cities became that way not by popular will, but against it. Following the profit motive, automotive interests pursued policies that saw active and public transport decline and private car use increase over many decades. This continues today. To tackle the problem fully, we must remember this history and challenge the capitalist imperative driving it. We have many examples of successful community campaigns, as recently documented in Andrew Chuter’s Road Wars presentation, that have pushed back against car dependency in Sydney.
In the Newtown area, many projects could be funded with support from the federal government, such as Parramatta Rd light rail, the Eveleigh active transport bridge, the Wilson St cycleway extension, raised pedestrian crossings, the full completion of the Sydney Park Junction, the Alexandria Canal cycleway and more.
Tanya Plibersek – Labor
Tanya Plibersek did not reply. Labor’s policies are published at this link.
Alex Xu – Liberal
Alex Xu did not reply. Liberal policies are published at this link.
Luc Velez – Greens
Luc Velez did not reply. Greens policies are published at this link.
Question 4: 2024 was the hottest year on record, and we are already seeing the impacts of climate change in our local area. Climate action is an important issue for voters in Sydney. As our local MP, how would you represent our community’s interests and address our urgent concerns on this issue in the next term of Parliament?
Rachel Evans – Socialist Alliance
Acting urgently on the climate emergency should be one of the government’s top priorities. Instead, Australia is focusing more on wasting billions on AUKUS submarines and propping up fossil fuel companies with subsidies.
Fortunately, many of the changes that we need to make to address the climate emergency will be cheaper, healthier, more efficient, and result in a more equitable society. The changes will mean 100% renewables, public and active transport prioritised, increased green spaces and more public housing allowing more people to live in a compact and affordable city.
Unfortunately, these changes continue to be strongly resisted by the wealthiest individuals and the most powerful companies in Australia and around the world. We cannot avoid the question of power – who decides? That is why Socialist Alliance is committed to the end of capitalism and a system based on democracy and the solidarity of everyday workers – socialism.
We can only achieve this by a global grassroots movement of people power. It is these social movements that Socialist Alliance has always aligned with and supports in our constant campaigning. Please join us to continue the struggle.
Read more about our election policies here: https://socialist-alliance.org/elections/voting-socialist-more-important-ever
Tanya Plibersek – Labor
Tanya Plibersek did not reply. Labor’s policies are published at this link.
Alex Xu – Liberal
Alex Xu did not reply. Liberal policies are published at this link.
Luc Velez – Greens
Luc Velez did not reply. Greens policies are published at this link.