The Greens have called on the member for Richmond - Justine Elliot MP - to apologise to her electorate for Labor lifting climate emissions and approving 28 new coal and gas projects, increasing the risks of worse fires and floods in the Northern Rivers.
Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt, who is in the federal NSW seat this week campaigning with the Greens' candidate Mandy Nolan, said Elliot had a lot to answer for.
The Greens say voters in flood-prone areas like Richmond want to see strong climate action, yet Labor's continued backing of coal and gas has made the risk of disaster flooding worse.
Since coming into power, Labor has approved 28 coal and gas projects. Emissions are higher under Anthony Albanese than they were under Scott Morrison (440.6 million tonnes in the last year, compared with 438.4 million tonnes in the final year of Morrison). And the government has pushed back setting climate targets until after the next election.
Mr Bandt said people across the Northern Rivers area had experienced the devastation of flooding first-hand and that these disasters would only get worse without strong climate action.
Yet instead of standing up to the fossil fuel lobby and rejecting new coal and gas projects, Labor continued to approve them time and time again, some to run as late as 2080.
In the 2022 election, Mandy came within a whisker of winning Richmond. And since early 2023, Nolan has been running a strong people-powered campaign.
Mandy only needs a 1.8% swing to win the seat at the next election.
As stated by Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:
"After 20 years of the same Labor MP, people across Richmond are now at even greater risk of floods, fires and climate-fuelled disasters.
"Justine Elliot owes the people of Richmond an apology. Labor has put people in harm's way by backing 28 new coal and gas projects and lifting emissions higher than when Scott Morrison left.
"Coal and gas are causing the climate crisis and fuelling devastating fires and floods, but Justine Elliot and Labor want more.
"People in the Northern Rivers have experienced climate devastation first hand, and they'd be shocked to know that under the Labor MP climate emissions are now even higher than when Scott Morrison left and Labor has approved 28 coal and gas projects.
"It's clear we can't keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. Nothing changes unless your vote does. To stop the climate crisis getting worse, vote 1 for the Greens' Mandy Nolan."
As stated by Australian Greens candidate for Richmond, Mandy Nolan:
"Our community has experienced the devastating reality of climate change firsthand. While Labor talks about climate action, their biggest impact on the climate has been approving 28 new coal and gas projects that will make floods and fires worse right here in the Northern Rivers.
"As someone who lived through the 2022 floods, I know exactly what's at stake. Every new coal and gas project Labor approves is another nail in the coffin for climate-vulnerable communities like ours.
"If we keep voting for the same two parties, our region is going to continue to suffer the worst of the climate crisis. With just a 1.8% swing, voters here can elect a strong voice for real climate action - one that will never back new coal and gas projects."
