In despair and contemplating a move to NZ on election night, climate activist Maddy Harford has calmed down and plans to continue working for action in her local community.
By Maddy Harford
What were you hoping for as an advocate for climate action?
I was hoping for a Labour victory with an increased representation (in both houses) for The Greens. I felt that Labour needed a firm nudge towards more strategies/policies to reduce Australia's carbon footprint.
What was your immediate response to the election result?
I felt the result would be close but that Labour would win. So I was bitterly disappointed with the result, quite despondent and very angry with the Queenslanders who swung so strongly to the small, right wing parties. My two emotional reactions were to contemplate a move to New Zealand and to encourage Queensland to secede from the Commonwealth.
What have your thoughts been in the two weeks since then?
Not surprisingly I calmed down over the following week or so. However, the Prime Minister has now announced the same Minister for Energy – Angus Taylor – who can't talk and chew gum at the same time. That is, he can't develop a policy that is sufficiently integrated to address price AND emissions reduction. Now I am, by turns, angry and despondent all over again.
Will you continue your advocacy work or do you see it as a lost cause?
I will certainly continue advocating for a more intelligent approach to addressing climate change. Since our new Government persists in a head-in-the-sand approach, it's up to local communities to take a leadership position.
Will the result change your approach?
I think I will continue to work with my local community, to raise awareness, educate and encourage individual action in terms of emissions reduction, which includes embracing community-owned renewable energy.
Maddy Harford is a cofounder of Bass Coast Climate Action Network.
What were you hoping for as an advocate for climate action?
I was hoping for a Labour victory with an increased representation (in both houses) for The Greens. I felt that Labour needed a firm nudge towards more strategies/policies to reduce Australia's carbon footprint.
What was your immediate response to the election result?
I felt the result would be close but that Labour would win. So I was bitterly disappointed with the result, quite despondent and very angry with the Queenslanders who swung so strongly to the small, right wing parties. My two emotional reactions were to contemplate a move to New Zealand and to encourage Queensland to secede from the Commonwealth.
What have your thoughts been in the two weeks since then?
Not surprisingly I calmed down over the following week or so. However, the Prime Minister has now announced the same Minister for Energy – Angus Taylor – who can't talk and chew gum at the same time. That is, he can't develop a policy that is sufficiently integrated to address price AND emissions reduction. Now I am, by turns, angry and despondent all over again.
Will you continue your advocacy work or do you see it as a lost cause?
I will certainly continue advocating for a more intelligent approach to addressing climate change. Since our new Government persists in a head-in-the-sand approach, it's up to local communities to take a leadership position.
Will the result change your approach?
I think I will continue to work with my local community, to raise awareness, educate and encourage individual action in terms of emissions reduction, which includes embracing community-owned renewable energy.
Maddy Harford is a cofounder of Bass Coast Climate Action Network.