Kooyong independent candidate takes aim at government’s climate plan

Independent candidate for Kooyong Monique Ryan has criticised the Morrison government’s climate change spending plan, calling it a “wasted opportunity”.

In his 2022 federal budget speech last night, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Australia was “playing its part” in the global response to climate change.

In the address, Mr Frydenberg touted the government’s “technology, not taxes” pathway to meet net zero emissions by 2050.

“Already, Australia has the highest uptake of rooftop solar in the world.”

“We are investing in clean hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, batteries and large-scale solar,” Mr Frydenberg said.

Speaking at her campaign headquarters this morning, Dr Ryan said the annual budget shows a “lack of vision” on climate change.

“Investing in fossil fuels is the last thing we should be doing,” Dr Ryan said.

“It’s quite disappointing.”

Dr Ryan took main aim at the Coalition’s plan to reduce climate spending should it win the federal election.

2022-23 budget papers show climate spending will fall 35 per cent over the next four years, from $2 billion next financial year to $1.3 billion in 2026.

But Dr Ryan said the government needed to spend more on technologies and renewables if Australia can safeguard its sovereignty.

“The Defence Force themselves called climate change our biggest threat.”

“We cannot be so dependent on external resources to protect the nation,” Dr Ryan said.

Climate change is the policy priority for the Kooyong independent candidate, who is vying for Mr Frydenberg’s seat at the upcoming election.

“Kooyong is fed up” with government “antipathy” on climate change, Dr Ryan said, pointing to her

“unprecedented” support base.

“The fact that we’ve had over 2000 volunteers is extraordinary,” Dr Ryan said.

“We’ve never had anything like this in Kooyong.”