MP Sussan Ley MP (holding microphone) questioned Michelle Milthorpe (second from right), while Glen Hyde, David O’Reilly and Tanya Hargraves looked on. Photos: Oliver Jacques.
Climate 200. Teal. Simon Holmes a Court.
If you were playing a drinking game and had those three names on your bingo card, you would’ve been under the table just 20 minutes into a federal election debate in Griffith on Thursday (24 April).
Member for Farrer Sussan Ley was asked about water buybacks in her first question and immediately pivoted to her main opponent, independent Michelle Milthorpe.
“Make no mistake, the biggest issue remains water. If Michelle is a Climate 200 candidate, I think the question needs to be, what is her position on water buybacks?”
When Ms Milthorpe responded by saying she opposed water buybacks, Ms Ley raised the stakes.
“Right now, the Greens Party are giving their preference to Michelle. What that says is that the Greens are finding the policies of Michelle are aligned with their own and they are the biggest water-buyback proponents in the country,” Ms Ley said.
Ms Ley repeatedly mentioned Climate 200, a crowd-funded group that is led by businessman Simon Holmes a Court and supports candidates who want action on climate change.
The Liberal MP also called Ms Milthorpe a ‘’teal’’, a reference to the six female independents elected to parliament in 2022 who are said to be (conservative) blue on economic issues but green on the environment.
“I am not a teal,” an exasperated Ms Milthorpe said.
“I think everyone is getting bored by the rhetoric around Climate 200 and teals.
“I’m running as an independent as I didn’t feel I was being represented in my community. I have accepted money from Climate 200 to help run my campaign, certainly not a mining company, certainly not a bank, certainly not a supermarket or anyone that would impact on my decision-making.”
She then returned serve against her opponent.
“We have seen successive governments fail on water policy … unfortunately we have had the same person working for us for 24 years and we are not any better on water policy and our communities are hurting,” Ms Milthorpe said.
Citrus farmer Johanna Brighenti quizzed the candidates on their support for farmers.
The Griffith Business Chamber Meet the Candidates forum was moderated by chamber president John Nikolic and also featured Labor’s Glen Hyde, Gerard Rennick People First candidate David O’Reilly and Clive Palmer-backed Trumpet of Patriots’ Tanya Hargraves.
These three candidates did their best to gain traction in a night dominated by the two likely frontrunners.
Questions on water, housing, immigration, energy, working from home and campaign funding were asked by the author of this article, representing Region, and journalists from The Area News and Triple M.
Mr O’Reilly and Ms Hargraves said they were against net zero and wanted to see big cuts to immigration to ease pressure on housing and infrastructure.
Mr Hyde was probed on his relationship with the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) and said the controversial union did not fund his campaign.
All candidates expressed support for allowing government employees to work from home, except Mr O’Reilly.
Four candidates also running for the seat of Farrer were invited to the debate but unable to attend. The Greens’ Richard Hendrie, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers’ Peter Sinclair and Family First’s Rebecca Scriven told organisers they would not be there, while One Nation’s Emma Hicks planned to attend but had to pull out the day before due to a medical issue.
The election will be held on Saturday, 3 May.
Original Article published by Oliver Jacques on Region Riverina.
