Policies

About policy formation

Kath believes in the power of true independence.

As your endorsed community candidate, she is free to assess policies on their merits, and is not bound by party lines or restricted by party loyalty or agendas. As an established professional, who is not trying to climb the political ladder or secure favours, Kath has freedom from, and is not influenced, by vested interests and lobbyists.

Kath is pro-community, pro-engagement and pro-participation.

Her agenda is your agenda. Kath’s goal is to get the best for our local Chisholm community plus the nation as a whole. This means a healthy, equitable, safe, sustainable and prosperous future for all, and a fairer society that respects human dignity and the wellbeing of all its citizens.

In developing and delivering policy, Kath is driven by principles and process.

Principles:
Respect - Integrity - Inclusivity - Positivity

Processes:
Use evidence based, scientific and sociological advice

Actively and constructively engage with all sectors of the community to listen and reflect people’s concerns

Support open, transparent and accountable government

Strive to be kind, compassionate and welcoming, and offer her best self

View Policies

Policy Positions

CLIMATE CHANGE

RENEWABLE ENERGY

ENVIRONMENT & NATURE

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. This destroys or damages our home, health and wealth. Damage includes loss of built environment, loss of agricultural land, loss of wildlife habitat and biodiversity, increased insurance costs, increased cost of living, security risks and multiple health impacts.

POLICY INTENT
Take stronger action on climate change

POLICY POSITIONS

Legislate science-backed targets to cut climate pollution.
Cut emissions by 75% by 2030 (compared to 2005 levels) and net zero by 2035 – from all sectors – electricity generation, industry, transport, agriculture, land, waste and th4 built environment.
Stop approvals for all new coal and gas projects including extensions
Eliminate fossil fuel subsidies
Reform the Petroleum Rent Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) to raise additional revenue
Eliminate gas connections for all new builds Australia-wide
Educate for and encourage energy efficiency in all sectors
Power our country with renewable energy backed by battery storage
Electrify industry and switch to zero-emission fuels
Accelerate our move to shared, active and electric transport
Better protect Australia from the damaging effects of climate change.
Offer subsidies to electrify homes
Incentivise uptake of electric vehicles
Incentivise community batteries
Provide financial support to homeowners and renters to improve insulation and ventilation and purchase energy-efficient, electric appliances

PLACES TO LEARN MORE:

Climate Council - Seize the Decade Report

Renewable energy is clean energy, and it is ideal for Australia with our abundance of natural resources. Electricity generated from the sun, wind and water is already meeting 40% of our energy needs throughout the year, peaking at world-leading records above 72% on the east coast and 84% on the west coast. The energy transition has started and needs to speed up. Households, businesses, farmers and manufacturers all can benefit and save money with the switch to renewables.

POLICY INTENT
Accelerate renewable energy transition

POLICY POSITIONS

Hold Labor to 82% Renewable Energy Target (RET) by 2030
Stop the use of “junk” carbon offsets
Decarbonise and remove fossil fuels
Increase community empowerment and ownership during implementation of renewable energy projects
Get the grid ready for higher contributions of renewable energy, and invest in transmission infrastructure
Back renewable energy by pumped hydro, batteries and (in the short term) small amounts of gas.
Block inclusion of gas in Capacity Investment Scheme to accelerate investment in renewable generation and dispatchable capacity
Foster community-led renewables projects in rural locations through grants
Invest in people and industry – skills, training and diversity

PLACES TO LEARN MORE

Our national environment law – the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act – is broken. An independent review by Prof. Samuels found it is systematically failing to protect nature. Our unique natural environment is under extreme pressure, with urgent action needed to tackle major threats including habitat loss, invasive species, land clearing and climate change.

POLICY INTENT
Take stronger action to protect nature and the environment

POLICY POSITIONS

Revitalise the EPBC Act as a matter of priority
Include a “Climate Trigger” in the EPBC Act
Create a national Environment Protection Agency that has the necessary powers to pull the climate trigger and enforce penalties
Mandate consideration of climate and environment impacts in all new project assessments
Impose a moratorium on seismic blasting
Take an holistic, integrated approach to tackling climate change, protecting nature and scaling up renewable energy. For example, the national environment law should be explicitly linked to other Australian Government climate priorities and commitments, including the Paris Agreement, Safeguard Mechanism, and national Climate Change Act
Mandate full disclosure of direct and downstream emissions/climate impact – the pollution created after their products are sold and consumed.

PLACES TO LEARN MORE: