A WET and cold Sunday did not deter climate change rally participants in Tamworth on World Environment Day as they made their voices heard on the federal election issues.
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About 300 adults and children gathered to hear from candidates for the seat of New England and Parkes on their approaches and policy promises to prevent damage to our climate.
New England Climate Action Group spokeswoman Emma Stilts said it was “really encouraging” that, despite the weather they still had such good numbers turn up, including 20 to 30 people who caught the train from Armidale to “train for change”.
“No one wants to say anything bad about rain, but it’s always a bit tougher to get a crowd. We were definitely not disappointed by people’s commitment,” she said.
“We live in an agricultural region and if we do not act on climate cange, we will not have an environment that will produce the food and fibres for our region and the world in general.”
New England candidates independent Rob Taber, Greens Mercurius Goldstein, Country Minded’s David Mailler, independent Tony Windsor, and Australian Labor Party candidate from Parkes, Kate Stewart, all spoke about the importance of addressing climate change and renewable energy sources.
“All the candidates who turned up saw the absolute requirement for action on climate change and tangible policy outcomes that reduce our carbon emissions,” co-organiser Ms Stilts said.
Organisers from the New England Climate Action Group and the Tamworth-Namoi Branch of National Parks Association of NSW said that, as drought conditions worsen, the issue is resonating strongly with local voters.
ABC Rural and Kondinin group Young Farmer of the Year Anika Molesworth also spoke about the importance of sustainability to farming and advocated for solutions such as more renewable energy opportunities for farmers.
Derek and Kirrily Blomfield of The Conscious Farmer also spoke, as did Doctors for Climate Change, along with Adam Blakester from Armidale.
Ms Stilts said everyone was on the same page.
“If we don’t act in the next three to five years, it’s a very bleak outcome,” she said.
“Because our electorate is so important this election, if we choose climate to vote on, it would reverberate across the nation.”
Voices of New England will hold another event today at noon outside the Tamworth Town Hall with a soapbox event for those who didn’t get tickets for Q&A tonight.
Meanwhile, members of the New England branch of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition will make a statement outside tonight’s Q&A in Tamworth with a “candlelit dinner for one” outside the Tamworth Town Hall.
It will feature a giant Barnaby Joyce paper-mache head seated at a table set with a gas bottle to drink and a lump of coal on a plate with a sign reading “Can’t eat coal, can’t drink gas, renewable energy now”.
“As young people, the decisions our politicians make now affect us for decades to come,” member Sarita Perston said.
“That’s why we’ll be there outside Q&A reminding the candidates and voters that protecting our farmland, water, and stopping damage to our climate are crucial issues for our electorate.”
