The Australian Conservation Foundation's assessment of parties' and candidates' climate and nature policies has given the Greens a high distinction (98%), Labor a bare pass (54%) and the Coalition a woeful score of 1 out of 100.
This is the lowest mark for the Coalition's environment policies on an ACF election scorecard.
"In this term of government Australian families have been hit by climate-fuelled bushfires and flooding making their homes uninsurable, while the destruction of wildlife habitat has pushed much-loved Aussie species to the brink, yet the climate and nature crises have hardly rated a mention with the two major parties at this election," said ACF CEO Kelly O'Shanassy.
"Labor scored points for its work on the clean energy and clean manufacturing transition and its strong stance against costly, thirsty, risky nuclear power, but lost points for its commitment to expanding the climate-wrecking coal and gas industries.
"Labor came to government in 2022 promising to strengthen Australia's failing nature laws but ended the term rushing through a bill to weaken them. Sadly, nature is more poorly protected at the end of the Albanese government's term than it was at the start.
"While Labor has renewed its promise to establish a federal environment protection agency – a promise it took to the last election but didn't deliver – its commitment to overhaul the national nature protection laws remains unclear.
"The Coalition's woeful score reflects its damaging, regressive policies: climate wrecking gas, and expensive and risky nuclear energy over clean, affordable renewables, coupled with cuts to environment protection at the behest of the fossil fuel industry.
"Australia would be a worse place to live under the Coalition's policies.
"The Coalition scored its single point for acknowledging concerns about AUKUS legislation that could leave the door open to Australia accepting high level nuclear waste from overseas.
"The Greens' policy platform sets out measures to stop Australia pouring fuel on the climate fire, massively increase funding for nature and overhaul national nature laws so they genuinely protect the creatures and places Australians love.
"ACF scored leading 'teal' independents highly for their strong climate and nature policies.
"We hope Australians will look their family members in the eye before heading to the polls and use their vote to elect a parliament that will protect our climate, wildlife and kids."
About the Australian Conservation Foundation's scorecard
ACF's scorecard is not an endorsement of any party or candidate. It's an issue-based assessment that shows how closely parties and candidates align with our policy agenda for protecting nature and acting on climate.
In 2019 the Coalition scored 4/100, Labor 56/100 and the Greens 99/100.
In 2016 the Coalition scored 14/100, Labor 62/100 and the Greens 95/100.
(ACF did not issue a scorecard for the 2022 federal election.)
ACF's scorecard is designed to help voters understand how well the climate and nature policies of political parties and candidates align with ACF's national agenda.
To determine the scores ACF surveyed and assessed the policies of Labor, the Liberal/National Coalition, the Greens, incumbent independent MPs in the lower house and independent candidates in electorates with high numbers of ACF supporters.
Read ACF's election scorecard summary
