Conservatives for Climate and Environment
Encyclopedia
Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy Australia is the Australian affiliate of Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy
, a pro-nuclear power non-profit organisation claiming over 9,000 members in 60 countries. Australia has no nuclear power plants, but nuclear power in Australia
was an issue in the 2007 elections.
EFN-Australia refers to itself as a not-for-profit environmental association, registered as a political party. EFN-Australia was originally registered as Conservatives for Climate and Environment in early 2007. Its stated major objective is to achieve the strongest possible action on climate change:
1) by promoting acceptance of nuclear energy as a significant part of the solution to climate change;
2) by supporting all viable technologies for greenhouse gas abatement;
3) by pushing for ambitious emissions reduction targets and timelines, achieved by a strong carbon price signal;
4) by endorsing and promoting the election of candidates to the Senate, House of Representatives and/or State Parliaments;
5) by having a politically non-partisan agenda, welcoming positive action from all sides.
and National
parties, but with greater emphasis on the importance of climate change
, and focused on environmental policies, which included the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol
and an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. A small-l liberal approach to social policy was stated, with their website condemning the treatment of Australian terrorism suspect David Hicks
. The party also supported greater protection for native forests and opposed the Gunns pulp mill in Tasmania
, which has the support of both major parties.
seats (Farrer
, Gilmore
, and Warringah
) in New South Wales
, and one seat (Mayo
) in South Australia
. In the upper house, the Senate
, CCE contested in three states, New South Wales, Victoria
and Western Australia
. CCE gained 9,988 votes or 0.08 percent of the national total in the Senate (between 0.10 percent and 0.13 percent in the three states contested). Results in the 4 lower house seats ranged from 0.46 percent to 1.30 percent. CCE preferenced
the Liberal Party, ahead of the Labor Party
and The Greens
.
Of notability, despite the CCE favouring the coalition on economic issues, 56 percent of their preferences went to the Labor Party.
The CCE vote declined at the 2008 Mayo by-election
from 1.3 percent, however there was a field of 11 candidates.
In 2009, CCE applied to the Australian Electoral Commission
to change its name to "Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy Australia". The application was accepted by the AEC. The party was voluntarily deregistered in 2010 due to a lack of members, however it is working to re-register.
Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy
Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy is a pro-nuclear power non-profit organization. Their website states that environmental opposition to nuclear energy is the "greatest misunderstanding and mistake of the century"....
, a pro-nuclear power non-profit organisation claiming over 9,000 members in 60 countries. Australia has no nuclear power plants, but nuclear power in Australia
Nuclear power in Australia
Nuclear power in Australia is a heavily debated concept. Australia currently has no nuclear facilities generatingelectricity, however, Australia has 23% of the world's uranium deposits and is the world's second largest producer of uranium after Kazakhstan...
was an issue in the 2007 elections.
EFN-Australia refers to itself as a not-for-profit environmental association, registered as a political party. EFN-Australia was originally registered as Conservatives for Climate and Environment in early 2007. Its stated major objective is to achieve the strongest possible action on climate change:
1) by promoting acceptance of nuclear energy as a significant part of the solution to climate change;
2) by supporting all viable technologies for greenhouse gas abatement;
3) by pushing for ambitious emissions reduction targets and timelines, achieved by a strong carbon price signal;
4) by endorsing and promoting the election of candidates to the Senate, House of Representatives and/or State Parliaments;
5) by having a politically non-partisan agenda, welcoming positive action from all sides.
History
Formerly, as Conservatives for Climate and Environment, the organisation was based on support for the economic policies of the governing LiberalLiberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
and National
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
parties, but with greater emphasis on the importance of climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, and focused on environmental policies, which included the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at fighting global warming...
and an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. A small-l liberal approach to social policy was stated, with their website condemning the treatment of Australian terrorism suspect David Hicks
David Hicks
David Matthew Hicks is an Australian who was convicted by the United States of America Guantanamo Military Commission under the Military Commissions Act of 2006, on charges of providing material support for terrorism...
. The party also supported greater protection for native forests and opposed the Gunns pulp mill in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, which has the support of both major parties.
Electoral fortunes
The 2007 federal election was the first election contested by the CCE. It contested three lower houseAustralian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
seats (Farrer
Division of Farrer
The Division of Farrer is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1949 and is named for William Farrer, agricultural scientist. It is located in the southern rural area of the state and includes Albury, Balranald, Deniliquin and Jerilderie. It has always...
, Gilmore
Division of Gilmore
The Division of Gilmore is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1984 and is named for Dame Mary Gilmore, the poet and author. It is located in the Shoalhaven the southern Illawarra regions, extending from Warilla in the north to Durras in the south, then...
, and Warringah
Division of Warringah
The Division of Warringah is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, and covers most of the land between Middle Harbour and the Pacific Ocean. It extends from Port Jackson in the south to the suburb of Dee Why in the...
) in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, and one seat (Mayo
Division of Mayo
The Division of Mayo is an Australian Electoral Division located in the hills, east of Adelaide, South Australia and currently includes the towns of Victor Harbor, Lobethal, Mount Barker, Strathalbyn, Woodside and Kingscote....
) in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. In the upper house, the Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
, CCE contested in three states, New South Wales, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. CCE gained 9,988 votes or 0.08 percent of the national total in the Senate (between 0.10 percent and 0.13 percent in the three states contested). Results in the 4 lower house seats ranged from 0.46 percent to 1.30 percent. CCE preferenced
Preferential voting
Preferential voting is a type of ballot structure used in several electoral systems in which voters rank candidates in order of relative preference. For example, the voter may select their first choice as '1', their second preference a '2', and so on...
the Liberal Party, ahead of the Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
and The Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
.
Of notability, despite the CCE favouring the coalition on economic issues, 56 percent of their preferences went to the Labor Party.
The CCE vote declined at the 2008 Mayo by-election
Mayo by-election, 2008
A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Mayo on 6 September 2008, following the retirement of Liberal Party MP Alexander Downer. The by-election was held on the same day as the Lyne by-election, and the Western Australian state election.The writ for the...
from 1.3 percent, however there was a field of 11 candidates.
In 2009, CCE applied to the Australian Electoral Commission
Australian Electoral Commission
The Australian Electoral Commission, or the AEC, is the federal government agency in charge of organising and supervising federal elections and referendums. State and local government elections are overseen by the Electoral Commission in each state and territory.The Australian Electoral Commission...
to change its name to "Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy Australia". The application was accepted by the AEC. The party was voluntarily deregistered in 2010 due to a lack of members, however it is working to re-register.