We think climate issues are important for the state election on November 29th for the citizens of Moreland. Here are the meet the candidate forums so far organised in Moreland covering the electorates of Brunswick, Pascoe Vale and Broadmeadows.

Attend them to meet the candidates, Don’t be shy, ask questions.

With the Federal Government effectively in denial on climate change, being shunned at the United Nations for our pitifully weak targets, and supporting expansion of coal exports. The Baillieu/Napthine State Government has also been backtracking on climate mitigation by: restricting wind farms, closing energy efficiency programs, reducing the solar feed-in tarriff to 8c per Kilowatt hour, allocating more brown coal licences, only a temporary ban on fracking and CSG to June 2015, building an $8 billion East West Link tollroad we described as climate madness, and no current State target to reduce carbon emissions.

The Liberals repealed the 20 per cent by 2020 target the Brumby Government set in 2012. Surveys have repeatedly found citizens of Victoria want action on climate change.

Our local Moreland Council are leading in tackling climate change by achieving carbon neutrality in 2012 and setting a community emissions reduction target of 22 per cent by 2020, setting in place a process to divest from fossil fuels, establishing heatwave strategy and urban planning, tree planting and trialing cool pavement technologies to combat the urban heat island effect.

A forum has already occurred at Coburg Farmers Market discussing agriculture and food security issues, but also including the impact of climate change on agriculture and food security. Labor and Liberal candidates chose to be unavailable or attend other events – a poor sign when food production and distribution and climate change are so important to discuss. See our report: Fair Food Forum at Coburg Farmers Market discusses agriculture and food security

We should demand equal climate action leadership from our state government representatives, Please attend. Listen. Ask Questions. Join the discussion.

Friday 7 November:
Pascoe Vale Candidates Forum. Coburg Uniting Church. 7.30pm. Facebook Event page
Pascoe Vale Candidates (so far):
Lizzie Blandthorn (Labor)
Liam Farrelly (Greens)
Sean Brocklehurst (Socialist Alliance)
Jacqueline Khoo (Liberal)

Tuesday 11 November:
Fawkner Candidates Forum for seat of Broadmeadows. 6.15pm-8pm at John Fawkner Secondary College, 51 Jukes Rd, Fawkner
Broadmeadows candidates (so far):
Frank McGuire (Labor)
Jaime de LOMA-OSORIO (Greens)
Mohamed Hassan (Voice for the West)
RSVP to the event: on eventbrite or Facebook

Friday 14 November:
Brunswick Candidates Forum. Brunswick Uniting Church. 7.30pm.
Brunswick Candidates (so far):
Jane Garrett (Labor)
Tim Read (Greens)
Dean O’Callaghan (Independant – Save the Planet)
Stella Kariofyllidis (People Power – No Smart Meters)
Giuseppe Vellotti (Liberal)
Ward Young (Animal Justice Party)
Babar Peters (Australian Christians)

Climate change and the Victorian Election: quiz your candidates

Monday 17 November
6.30 – 8.30pm
Coburg Town Hall, 90 Bell Street, Coburg
Organised by Climate Action Moreland (CAM)
RSVP via Facebook page
Endorsed by Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Moreland Bicycle Users Group, 350.org (Melbourne), Moreland Community Against the East West Tunnel and MEFL