Electrirfying Bradfield are meeting with all the Federal Candidates in the upcoming election. We intend to make electrification and community led energy a major issue for voters in this election.
The 3rd of April was an important day for members of 'Electrifying Bradfield'! It was the day that members of 'Energyze North' and 'Electrifying Bradfield' had the opportunity to meet with Nicolette Boele, Independent candidate for the federal seat of Bradfield. (see photo).
The signs held in the photo and the slogans refer to a national campaign by 'Rewiring Australia' headed by Saul Griffiths. The campaign follows a recent publication by that organisation, 'The Electrification Tipping Point'. It demonstrates very clearly that over a 15 year period a completely electrified household (rooftop solar, storage battery, air conditioner, heat pump hot water, induction cooktop and an EV) including installation costs ,compared to a home using gas and petrol vehicles, will save $4100.00/year average on energy costs! - $17,300.00 V $13,200.00! [go to www.rewiringaustralia.org/The Electrification Tipping Point] also the post in this website 'Breaking News: Australia hits 'The Electrification Tipping Point'] .
Attendees were warmly welcomed by everyone in Nicolette's campaign office. The purpose of the meeting was to inform Nicolette of the nature of both organizations and the community actions both were taking in relation to informing community residents about climate change, renewable energies [particularly solar] and sustainable living and then supporting those residents who were interested in installing solar energy systems, battery storage and electrifying their homes. It also informed her of the national campaign by 'Rewiring Australia' and the elements of their policy, 'Electrify Everything For Everyone' and if elected, seeking her support for these elements.
The conversations that took place were important and useful to all parties. We all found Nicolette acutely aware of, informed of the issues of climate change and its impacts on sustainable living but also with deep understanding of the potential strategies to address those issues and a commitment to pursue them if elected as the member for Bradfield. She also expressed a strong appreciation of and support for the community-based work and actions that both 'Electrifying Bradfield' and 'Energyze' members were undertaking in the Bradfield communities.
The issues that were canvassed in the meeting were wide ranging and included:
* addressing the cost of living pressures by energy cost reduction through electrifying everything for everyone using renewable solar energy;
* strategies to ensure equity in our energy system, especially for low-income residents through government-backed incentives/rebates and financing (e.g., government-backed loans particularly for Strata) and
* laws to ensure all new houses/apartments- especially low-cost/public housing - are built to be renewably energy efficient;
* reform to facilitate grid infrastructure to enable electric vehicle to grid (V2G) charging;
* investment in workforce training for the rapid and efficient transition to renewable energies;
* pros and cons of different methods of creating funds for the renewable transition including carbon taxes and significant tax reform;
* impacts of climate change (e.g., seal level rise; floods & storm surges) in neighbouring countries to Australia (e.g., Bangladesh; Timor islands) and planning/preparing for the serious implications for Australia's national security of these impacts (e.g., massive dislocation and migration of 'climate refugees' to Australia and meeting their food/health/housing/energy etc requirements) (Ref: the unreleased 2024 report by Australia's security & defence agencies on the impacts of climate changes on Australia's national security).
In sum, it was a very important and productive discussion for all and was conducted in a cordial and respectful atmosphere. Thank you Nicolette for your time, warm welcome and the ideas shared. We wish you well in your campaign.
NOTE: The meeting with Nicolette was the first of the meetings members of the two organizations are planning to have with each of the four Bradfield candidates. The next meeting is with Harjit Singh (Greens) on Monday 7th April.
