Voices of Bradfield

Voices of Bradfield is a newly-formed local organisation. It is one of the Voices groups springing up in 30 electorates across the country, modelled on the successful Voices of Indi and Voices of Warringah groups. 

Voices of Bradfield is concerned that the Morrison government is not listening to voters. Instead, the government seems to be under the sway of vested interests. 

Voices of Bradfield is consulting with local voters in the Bradfield electorate. Out consultations so far indicate that local people have three main concerns.

• Ineffective policies to combat climate change
• Failure to implement a federal anti-corruption commission
• Poor leadership, incompetent government and corrupt practices.

We want to hear from you. 

Visit our website. 

Or catch up with us on Facebook or Twitter, where we are @voicesbradfield.

Last day on the street

This week was our last day on the street at Lindfield. Every Tuesday for three months - not a bad effort. 

We spoke to hundreds of people, and got to know many people in our local community a lot better. We gave a voice to people who are worried by climate change and want the government to take stronger action. 

Many said they would think about what we said, many signed our petitions, and some came to stand with us. Thank you to everyone who has shown support.

COVID-19 is an immediate danger that needs attention, we respect that. But global heating is a much greater danger. And it is increasingly urgent. So now, we step back to allow a little space, but our determination to create a strong long-term future is undimmed.

On our last day, Nadine, a journalism student, approached us and asked if she could do her assignment on us. She has to write an article about something happening in her local area. Of course, we are the BEST thing happening in Bradfield! We'll update you with her article.

We know that COVID-19 is mesmerising, but we encourage you to continue to follow the news on climage policy. We're very heartened that the NSW government has spelt out plans for the next 10 years, to put it on the path to net zero emissions by 2050.

Lower emissions are the only vaccination for climate change.

New Survey Shows Majority Support for Zero by 2050

Latest Guardian Essential Poll shows 75% of voters support a Zero Emissions by 2050 target. Support is also strong among Coalition voters, at 68%.

So, of course, we have added this to our messaging.

And we've added a new flyer.

This week we had some good conversations. Many people are very anxious about the impacts of climate change and worried by government inaction. They want to do more, and they want to encourage us to do more.

Over time, we are beginning to recognise familiar faces. One man said, "I have some ideas about this. I'll talk to you about it next week."

This is how things build. Reliability. Trust. Honesty.

Reserve Bank of Australia calls for better Climate Policies

Philip Lowe, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, used a speech at Australia-Canada economic leadership forum on 13 February to observe that the Reserve Bank was paying attention to the financial implications of Climate Change.

We have a responsibility to understand the economic and the financial implication of climate change.

He said: 

"The economic implications are profound."

"The world is getting hotter and the climate is more variable. We're seeing already in Australia, perhaps more than anywhere else in the world, the effects of that."

"Climate change is affecting the nature of production in Australia, the nature of investment, ultimately the nature of our exports. At the moment, I think it's affecting confidence of people and therefore ultimately spending." 

He called for greater policy certainty.

The policy uncertainty is problematic. There's been very substantial investment in renewables in Australia. We have fantastic opportunities there to reshape our energy production system ... but it would be enhanced with greater policy certainty.

He's being polite. 

Investment in renewables collapsed by more than 50 per cent in 2019, according to the Australian Financial Review. This is blamed on mounting regulatory risks, under-investment in transmission, and policy uncertainty. All these problems are caused by government recalcitrance and ineptitude.

We need strong government leadership to set a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the longer term. Within this framework, consistent policy support will guide ongoing investment in clean energy. The legislation proposed by Zali Steggall provides exactly this policy certainty.

The Morrison government should listen to the Reserve Bank, and all the other voices calling for greater policy certainty. If they don't, the 'lost decade' will become the 'lost 20 years' - and that's a whole generation.

I encourage you to contact your MP or Senators and urge them to support the legislation proposed by Zali Steggall. 

Just another Tuesday...

We turned up at Lindfield on the Pacific Highway at the Lindfield Station for our usual Tuesday morning action. We started in December, and have continued through January, into February.

And eight people, strangers, joined us! How encouraging is that?

We collected lots of signatures for our petition. Gillian is a whizz at approaching people.

About 2,500 people saw our signs.

And we visited Paul Fletcher's office with our petition and the strong message that we demand stronger action to reduce carbon emissions. The government is failing us.

Then we had coffee!

From next week, our main messages will be Zero by 2050. We will support the Private Members bill  proposed by Zali Steggall.

In a thousand local actions across Australia. We will raise our voices everywhere.

Next Tuesday, we'll be on the streets of Lindfield again.!